Impact of hurricane Maria on physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use among Puerto Ricans

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017. We examined it’s impact on physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use. Data was from 2015–2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Linear probability models and differences-in-differences estimators were used to estimate the effects of Maria on any past 30-day physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use. The sample (N = 19,489) was balanced after matching, with 99.1% Hispanics in both groups. Exposure toMaria was associated with a 3%decrease in the probability of any past 30-day physical activity and a 2.7% increase in the probability of any past 30-day alcohol-drinking. The effects on smoking and binge-drinking were statistically nonsignificant. Hurricane Maria could have discouraged Puerto Ricans’ physical activity but nudged alcohol use. Future studies should investigate the sustained impacts of natural disasters on health behaviors and underlying mechanisms. Interventions may be warranted to promote healthy lifestyles among disaster survivors.