News Recession, hurricanes, service cuts: Why Puerto Ricans are leaving the island for the mainland November 1, 2021 Rick Rouan, Katherine Kokal and Jenna Intersimone, USA TODAY Comments Off on Recession, hurricanes, service cuts: Why Puerto Ricans are leaving the island for the mainland Hundreds of thousands have left Puerto Rico over the last decade in the wake of hurricanes, a collapsing economy, unemployment and austerity.