FEMA Approves Nearly $82 Million in Funding to Help Communities Recover from Recent Disasters and Strengthen Their Resilience Against Future Disasters in Puerto Rico

GUAYNABO - Today, FEMA announced the approval of nearly $82 million in funding for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects and assistance programs in Puerto Rico. These programs empower states, local communities, tribes and territories to recover from disasters, rebuild safer and more resilient 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 and programs that deliver safety and security to the American people.

The funding approved today includes more than $75.6 million under FEMA's Public Assistance program awarded in Puerto Rico.

FEMA obligates this money to states, tribes and territories, as 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 obligated through Public Assistance funding approved today include:

• Nearly $30 million to the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration for permanent repairs and restoration at the Juan Jiménez García, Turabo Heights, Jardines de San Carlos, Carolina Walk-Up (El Faro), Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, Los Lirios, Los Murales, Raúl Castellón, Jardines de Ceiba, and Beatriz Lasalle public housing complexes following Hurricane Maria.
• Nearly $9.7 million to the Municipality of Barranquitas to repair roads PR-720, PR-156, PR-770, PR-772, and PR-771 following damage from Tropical Storm Ernesto.
• Nearly $6.6 million to the Municipality of Loíza for permanent repairs to the Paseo del Atlántico Recreational Facility following damage by Hurricane Maria.
• More than $6.2 million to the Puerto Rico Solid Waste Authority to repair the Arecibo Composting Plant and the Guayanilla ADS Building following damage from Hurricane Maria.

FEMA is also awarding more than $6.2 million for projects in Puerto Rico that will prevent, eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage. This money is being distributed through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Through this program, state, local or territorial governments and tribal nations take proactive mitigation measures such as acquiring and removing flood-prone properties, adopting and enforcing building codes and standards, protecting against floods through elevations and drainage improvement projects, building safe rooms and upgrading utilities and infrastructure.

Examples of projects awarded through Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding approved today include:

• More than $4.7 million to the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital for the purchase and installation of a power system with battery energy storage and a microgrid controller, to provide backup power for the hospital.
• More than $782,000 to the Municipality of Humacao to fund a flood control and shoreline stabilization project in the community of Punta Santiago.
• Nearly $475,000 to the Municipality of Humacao to fund a flood control and shoreline stabilization project in the Humacao Riverine.

These awards are the latest examples of billions of dollars provided by FEMA to support local communities as they work to rebuild from recent natural disasters.

FEMA continues its renewed commitment to support communities as they lead recovery from disasters like hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires while making themselves more resilient to future disasters.