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Additional $5.4 Million Obligated for Puerto Rico Recovery

By on December 17, 2019

SAN JUAN — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Puerto Rico’s Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience, or COR3, have obligated more than $5.4 million in additional funds for 44 projects related to the recovery and reconstruction of Puerto Rico after the 2017 hurricane season. These funds were obligated between Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.

FEMA works with COR3 through the agency’s Public Assistance program to obligate recovery funds to private nonprofit organizations, municipalities and Puerto Rico government agencies for expenses related to hurricanes Irma and María.

The agencies develop strategies to advance recovery projects. To date, more than $6 billion has been approved for Puerto Rico under the Public Assistance program.

The latest grants obligated are as follows:

  • More than $2 million for repairs to roads and bridges
  • More than $1.3 million for emergency protective measures
  • Nearly $909,000 for debris removal
  • Nearly $510,000 for repairs to public buildings and equipment
  • Nearly $390,000 to municipal governments for administrative costs
  • More than $188,000 for work related to parks and recreational facilities
  • Nearly $42,000 for repairs to public utilities

“FEMA and COR3 remain focused on prioritizing obligations of funds to municipalities for eligible expenses related to hurricanes Irma and Maria to help communities recover,” Tuesday’s release reads.

“Many projects during this phase of the recovery are for architectural and engineering design, which may open the door to funding opportunities for larger projects in the future. These funds help to reduce the ‘damage-rebuild-damage’ cycle that comes with restoring structures to pre-disaster conditions. They assure quality by meticulously detailing scopes of work to ensure a repaired and rebuilt Puerto Rico is better positioned to withstand another storm,” FEMA said.

Emergency protective measures are actions taken to eliminate or lessen immediate threats either to lives, public health or safety, or significant additional damage to public or private property.

Funding for permanent work includes projects like roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities and park and recreation facilities as authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.

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