Why Puerto Rico Is Getting the Brunt of 'Donor Fatigue'

Recovering from disasters is never easy. When disasters pile up, it gets harder.

On top of the inevitable competition for everything from the government's funding for recovery efforts to construction materials, donations for relief operations dry up as givers develop what's known as "donor fatigue."

While studying disaster relief and community resilience, I've learned that there are many factors shaping if and how much people give. I've also found that those decisions can have important consequences for communities affected by disasters. And when multiple devastating events occur around the same time, the strain on donors and responders takes a big toll.

Donor Fatigue

When donors have already supported other relief efforts, they may feel that they either can't or don't need to give again.

Today, that means many people who supported recovery efforts after Hurricane Harveyor perhaps Hurricane Irma are not pitching in to help Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.