The sanitary trunk main that serves the communities of Vistamar, Los Angeles and Loíza Pueblo, in Carolina and Loíza, respectively, is already in the construction stages following an allocation of about $8.2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This system, essential for transporting wastewater, will be rebuilt with an innovative system that will provide a useful life of at least 50 years to the pipes that carry wastewater to the treatment plants.
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In the six months since the Sept. 21 disaster declaration for Hurricane Fiona, more than $864.7 million in federal funds have been distributed to support the recovery of survivors and infrastructure on the island. The collaboration between FEMA, the Government of Puerto Rico, the municipalities, and local and federal partners remains strong which has been key to identifying and fulfilling disaster related needs.
According to the Puerto Rico Planning Board, floods on the island represent billions in losses and put at risk some 200,000 residences located in flood-prone areas. To reduce the effects of these natural events, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is working on 35 projects with an investment of $122 million.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved over $5.7 million for this and other waterfronts (known as malecón in Spanish) and boardwalks to repair structures damaged by Hurricane María.
Puerto Rico’s Cordillera Central and the public roads that connect the 15 municipalities that are part of it have received —to date— obligations totaling over $672 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair bridges and roads in the area. These roads are a key element for the safe transportation of residents and for the small businesses that surround this area of touristic and cultural value.
It is unwise to do the same thing repeatedly and expect different results. This applies to just about everything in life, including how we recover from the damaging effects of a natural disaster.
The facilities that house the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center in Ponce, the Caguana Ceremonial Indigenous Center in Utuado and the Ceremonial Park Cueva del Indio in Las Piedras, three areas of great archaeological and historical value in Puerto Rico, received an obligation of nearly $1.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) to repair damage caused by Hurricane María.
Domingo Reyes Piazza is an example of someone who learned from experience the benefits of building back resilient. After Hurricane Maria damaged his sheet metal rooftop, he decided to make a few improvements. Years later, when Hurricane Fiona battered parts of Puerto Rico’s south and central mountain region, his repairs stood up to the test.
The need for the services provided by critical facilities, such as police stations and government centers that serve the community, is vital during a disaster and to preserve the lives and safety of people. That’s why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allocated nearly $2 million for the first phase of a project of approximately $25 million in total. The hazard mitigation proposal consists of purchasing and installing generators at 35 police stations and 39 government facilities of the Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority.
After the impact of Hurricane Maria, hundreds of churches and houses of worship opened their doors to lend a hand in their communities. People came to these places of worship for food, basic supplies, and even assistance in picking up debris and replacing tin roofs that did not withstand the wind. Amidst the large amount of fallen vegetation and the need for provisions, "the churches are a beacon to encourage people to keep going". This is how Pastor Dalma Pérez of the Iglesia Cristina Discípulos de Cristo Río Lajas in Toa Alta described her experience of the first days after the storm hit.