24 Municipalities Designated For Infrastructure Assistance
Release Date: October 8, 2008
Release Number: 1798-011
» More Information on Puerto Rico Severe Storms and Flooding
SAN JUAN, PR -- Disaster assistance has been made available to government agencies and certain non-profit organizations in 24 municipalities, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today. This assistance will help pay the costs of emergency measures, debris pickup and rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the effects of the storms and flooding in Puerto Rico September 21 through October 3.
FEMA aid comes in two categories: "Individual Assistance" is for individual households, and "Public Assistance" is for government agencies and qualified nonprofit agencies.
Today's declaration makes the Public Assistance program available to government and certain nonprofit agencies in 24 municipalities. The municipalities are: Adjuntas, Arroyo, Cabo Rojo, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Gurabo, Humacao, Juncos, Lajas, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Maunabo, Naguabo, Patillas, Peñuelas, Sabana Grande, Santa Isabel, San German, San Lorenzo, Utuado, Villalba, Yabucoa, and Yauco.
The new designations were made based on a review of damage data gathered by federal and commonwealth disaster recovery officials.
In these 24 municipalities, federal funding will be available to affected local governments and certain non-profits to pay 75 percent of the approved costs for debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. Commonwealth and FEMA officials will meet with those organizations to explain the application process.
In addition, low-interest disaster loans of up to $2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to qualifying private non-profit organizations to help with the costs of repairing or replacing damaged facilities, or to cover the costs of income lost because of the disaster.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Friday, 10-Oct-2008 09:40:57