The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) has been awarded over $68.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding in the wake of Hurricane Fiona.
“When disaster strikes, it is our foremost priority to ensure the Government of Puerto Rico has the tools necessary to respond,”
FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Nancy Casper said. “This includes ensuring there is a dependable power source that will sustain critical, lifesaving, and life-sustaining facilities. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Partners at PREPA and COR3, FEMA is able to award this funding swiftly and help ensure Puerto Rico continues to have the resources they need.”
The funding allotment would provide additional resources to the local government and add to the $670.5 million in federal funding obligated to support communities, government, and private non-profit entities amid Hurricane Fiona recovery.
“To have a reliable and resilient electrical system is a top priority for Puerto Rico, particularly for our state government as well as federal entities,” Gov. Pedro R. Pierluisi said. “For that reason, before, during, and after hurricane Fiona, we have taken prompt and direct actions to make this happen. Once again, I thank the Biden Administration for promptly addressing our needs, and FEMA, who together with COR3 and PREPA have been working towards the same goal: the well-being of our citizens and the reconstruction of Puerto Rico.”
FEMA indicated the agency’s Public Assistance Program provides funding to local government jurisdictions and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure – in addition to costs incurred for emergency actions taken to protect lives and property.