More Than $11 Million Approved In Disaster Aid For The May Floods And Mudslides Recovery
Release Date: July 20, 2001
Release Number: 1372-37
» More Information on Puerto Rico Flooding
San Juan, PR -- Commonwealth and federal recovery officials report that $11,293,692 has been approved in disaster aid to help local residents and businesses recover from the floods and mudslides that occurred May 6 to 11, 2001. After the May 16 presidential disaster declaration for the affected areas in Puerto Rico, 6,587 applicants registered for disaster aid. The recovery efforts performed to date by FEMA, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and other federal and voluntary agencies are:
Individual And Family Grant (IFG) Program
A total of $6,472,068 has been approved under the IFG program. Administered by the Department of the Family, the IFG program provides assistance to individuals and families to meet serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance, federal, commonwealth or voluntary agency disaster assistance programs. To date, the total aid approved in the nine designated municipalities is:
| MUNICIPALITY | TOTAL ASSISTANCE |
| Adjuntas | $1,196,993 |
| Cabo Rojo | 299,161 |
| Guanica | 581,900 |
| Guayanilla | 752,340 |
| Lajas | 1,683,887 |
| Rincon | 48,979 |
| Sabana Grande | 233,689 |
| San German | 274,293 |
| Yauco | 1,400,826 |
FEMA Disaster Housing
The FEMA Disaster Housing Program has approved $1,713,756 in aid. This assistance includes grants for rental assistance and/or to cover basic repairs to make damaged homes habitable.
Public Assistance (Infrastructure)
The FEMA Public Assistance (Infrastructure) Program has approved $1,757,068 in aid to reimburse the commonwealth and local governments for the costs of rebuilding the damaged infrastructure. That may include debris removal, approved costs of emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement or restoration of flood-damaged public facilities, such as roads and bridges, buildings, parks, water control facilities and utilities.
Following is a list of the municipalities and government agencies with the approved assistance under the Public Assistance program, as of today.
Municipality/Government Agency |
Amount |
Municipality/Government Agency |
Amount |
| Adjuntas | $334,407 | Moca | $25,947 |
| Anasco | 59,696 | Rincón | 9,909 |
| Cabo Rojo | 94,199 | Sabana Grande | 106,228 |
| Guánica | 42,663 | San Germán | 58,409 |
| Guayanilla | 80,295 | Yauco | 274,417 |
| Hormigueros | 78,734 | Dept. of Trans. & Pb. Wrks | 25,427 |
| Lajas | 144,375 | PR Land Authority | 22,756 |
| Lares | 17,442 | PR Hwy. & Transp. Authority | 211,221 |
| Las Marias | 7,265 | PR Electric Power Authority | 109,946 |
| Maricao | 47,675 | PR Emergency Mgt. Agency | 5,990 |
US Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA has approved 166 disaster loans for a total of $1,289,100 in disaster related loans. Low-interest SBA loans may be available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to cover real estate and personal property damage that is not fully compensated by insurance or other sources.
Crisis Counseling
The PR Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration received a $61,700 grant from FEMA to work with residents affected by the floods to enable the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico respond to the immediate mental health needs with crisis counseling services. The program was available until July 15, 2001.
FEMA Helpline
Residents of the disaster declared municipalities who registered for commonwealth and federal disaster assistance may call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-525-0321 to receive information about, or provide updates to their application. Helpline representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 21-Oct-2003 12:39:53