FEMA Approves More Than $5.5 Million in Funding to Help Communities Recover from Recent Disasters in Puerto Rico

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico - FEMA has announced the approval of more than $5.5 million in post-disaster funding for Public Assistance projects in Puerto Rico. This program empowers states, local communities, tribes and territories to recover and to rebuild more resilient, safer communities and protect infrastructure from future events. With this funding, President Donald J. Trump is keeping his promise to reform federal disaster support and ensure that taxpayer money is spent only on projects that deliver safety and security to the American people.

FEMA disburses this money to states and local communities because they are best positioned to know how these funds will be most effectively spent. The funded projects include repairs to critical infrastructure, restoration of public buildings, road repairs and reimbursement for costs incurred to ensure public health and safety after a disaster.

Examples of projects reimbursed through Public Assistance funding approved include:

• Nearly $1.2 million to the Puerto Rico Department of Education to repair and replace building exteriors, interiors and contents damaged by Hurricane Fiona.
• More than $950,000 to the Municipality of Arecibo to repair and replace building exteriors, interiors, athletic facilities, park equipment, and related sites damaged by Hurricane Maria.
• Nearly $715,000 to the Association of Capuchin Friars to repair and replace building exteriors and interiors damaged by Hurricane Maria
• More than $540,000 to the Municipality of Canovanas to repair and replace infrastructure including backfill, culverts, embankments, head walls, and wing walls damaged by Hurricane Fiona.

These projects are the latest examples of billions of dollars in disaster recovery provided by FEMA to support state and local communities as they work to rebuild from recent natural disasters.

FEMA continues its renewed commitment to help communities recover from disasters like hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires while making them more resilient from future disasters.