Deborah Drahus Capo knew shed have to leave Puerto Rico the moment she emerged from the bathroom where she had holed up throughout Hurricane Maria last month.

For eight hours straight, the San Juan-based attorney had listened to the wind howling like a monster, waiting for the windows in her apartment to break. When the storm subsided, the streets in her neighborhood were blocked with debris and the supermarkets were empty. Her daughters house nearby had been flooded. There was no electricity or running water.

Ten days after the storm devastated the island, Drahus Capo boarded a flight to Florida with her daughter and granddaughter in tow. For now, theyre staying at a friends home in Miami.

Its like they pulled the rug out from under me: I had my life, my clients, and all of a sudden Im on plane to Miami, she told HuffPost last week. What do I plan on doing? I dont know.

Since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico almost one month ago, thousands of residents have left the U.S. territory. Many are like Drahus Capo not knowing when, or if, theyll return.

The storm, which killed at least 48 people , has cut power for most of the 3.4 million residents of the island and deprived more than a quarter of residents of access to clean drinking water. Most of the recovery seen on the island so far has been concentrated around the capital of San Juan. Entire areas inland remain inaccessible, many supermarkets still dont carry fresh produce or meat, and many hospitals and clinics are without electricity , leading them to depend on unreliable generators to provide care to the most vulnerable patients.

Life on the island has become a daily struggle, forcing thousands to consider whether a better future lies ahead outside of its borders.