For Immediate Release

FEMA News Desk

Phone: 202-646-3272

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $500 million for survivor assistance, emergency work, and debris removal following hurricanes Irma and Maria.

More than $114 million has been distributed to individuals for housing assistance and critical needs. Over 800,000 survivors have registered for various types of disaster assistance throughout Puerto Rico’s 78 municipalities. The Small Business Administration has approved more than $2.3 million in disaster assistance loans.

In addition, more than $384.2 million in public assistance has been awarded for funding to state and local organizations to perform emergency protective measures such as use of temporary generators, flood control, conducting safety inspections, and debris removal.

Assistance includes more than $215 million to the Puerto Rico Electric and Power Authority (PREPA), and $70 million to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) to perform repairs to aid in the restoration of power and water services to Puerto Rico’s estimated 3.5 million residents. The remaining $99.2 million in public assistance funding was awarded to multiple public and qualifying non-profit organizations.

Private non-profit hospitals, schools, and utility providers, and non-critical organizations such as community centers, day cares, and shelters may be eligible for public assistance, and are encouraged to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) to the government of Puerto Rico.

Individuals and households in Puerto Rico can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. FEMA teams are also on the ground meeting face-to-face with disaster survivors and helping with registrations.

Members of the Armor Unit Combat Aviation Division from Ft. Bliss, Texas deliver emergency water supplies to an isolated village.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS - Video Relay Service). (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters, which can cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

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