Yesterday, FEMA announced that is has amended the Major Disaster Declaration issued to the Government of Puerto Rico to approve an additional 14 municipalities for the Public Assistance (PA) program.
“Once again, and as I said before, it’s really important that the federal and the local government work together as one team. Adding another 14 municipalities to the Major Disaster Declaration, related to hurricane Fiona, it’s a proof of our hard work and direct communication with FEMA and COR3. We are helping our municipalities, but above all, our people. Thank you to the Biden- Harris Administration for its commitment to Puerto Rico, it’s recovery and reconstruction”, said the governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro R. Pierluisi.
The municipalities of Barceloneta, Cataño, Dorado, Florida, Hatillo, Isabela, Luquillo, Quebradillas, Río Grande, San Juan, San Sebastián, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto and Vega Baja were added for PA categories C through G. These municipalities are already designated for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B) under the PA program.
The executive director of the Central Office of Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3), Eng. Manuel A. Laboy Rivera, said that “at COR3 we maintain daily communication with the FEMA team as part of our commitment with subrecipients to obtain the best terms that help them maximize the development of their reconstruction projects. This announcement adds to other efforts we have made as a team between the state and federal government, achieving a positive impact on the execution of permanent work.”
On Nov. 21, President Biden announced the federal share for Public Assistance has been increased to 90 percent of total eligible costs, except assistance previously approved at 100 percent, to further supplement territorial and local recovery costs after Hurricane Fiona.
“The addition of these municipalities to the declaration is another step forward in Puerto Rico’s long-term recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Nancy Casper. “FEMA’s public assistance program is a vital resource for hard-hit communities across the island to seek relief from the significant costs of rebuilding critical infrastructure and other public property.”
The PA program supports communities’ recovery from major disasters with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures and restoring public infrastructure.