Pablo José Hernández Rivera, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, announced on May 13 that more than $39.6 million in federal funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been allocated for reconstruction and recovery projects in Puerto Rico.
These funds are intended to help communities recover from years of natural disasters and public health emergencies by strengthening infrastructure and supporting essential services. Hernández Rivera said, “These funds represent important investments to strengthen resilience and support the recovery of our communities after years of emergencies and natural disasters.” He added, “From schools that serve as shelters and community support centers to municipal reconstruction projects and public health efforts, these allocations will help Puerto Rico continue rebuilding itself and better prepare for future emergencies.”
Many local facilities remain damaged or under-resourced following recent hurricanes, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools used as community centers during emergencies, municipal buildings damaged by earthquakes, and agencies providing critical operations during the pandemic still rely on federal assistance to complete their recovery.
Among the funded projects are more than $2.1 million for the Archdiocese of San Juan to install emergency generators and resilient electrical improvements at 23 schools serving as community hubs during disasters; $11.4 million for rebuilding Guánica’s city hall after damage caused by the 2020 earthquakes; $7.3 million for the Puerto Rico National Guard’s vaccination operations during COVID-19; $2.9 million for police emergency response efforts; $2.1 million for protective equipment at correctional institutions; $7.6 million for COR3’s management of COVID-19 related recovery projects; an additional $3.6 million to the National Guard’s vaccine distribution work; and $2.2 million for Colegio Ponceño administrative costs related to earthquake reconstruction.
Hernández Rivera said these investments will help ensure that affected areas can restore essential services while building greater resilience against future challenges.
