From Caribbean Business

SAN JUAN – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it has awarded more than $140 million in Public Assistance grants for Hurricane María recovery in Puerto Rico.

To date, the FEMA program has provided $2.6 billion in funding to the island’s central government and municipalities for debris removal and emergency protective measures, or “actions taken to eliminate or lessen immediate threats either to lives, public health or safety, or significant additional damage to public or private property in a cost-effective manner,” according to FEMA’s release.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to government organizations and nonprofits for “debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures and the repair, replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged facilities.”

The program also “encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process,” the release reads.

The following grants were recently approved disaster-related expenses for debris removal and emergency protective measures:

Nearly $16.9 million to San Juan
More than $13.2 million to Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
More than $10.2 million to PR Police Department
More than $9.3 million to Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency
More than $9.6 million to Naranjito
More than $8.1 million to the PR Department of Education
More than $8 million to Aguada
Nearly $6.7 million to Quebradillas
Nearly $5.7 million to Cabo Rojo
More than $5.1 million to Aguadilla
Nearly $4.8 million to San Lorenzo
Nearly $4.6 million to Cataño
Nearly $4.2 million to Isabela
Nearly $3.4 million to Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority
Nearly $3.4 million to Vega Baja
Nearly $3.4 million to Yauco
Nearly $3.2 million to Las Marías
More than $2.4 million to Caguas
More than $2.3 million to Lajas
More than $2.2 million to Orocovis
Nearly $2.1 million to Yauco
More than $2.1 million to Arroyo
Nearly $1.6 million to San Germán
More than $1.6 million to Patillas
More than $1.6 million to Toa Baja
More than $1.4 million to Rincón
Nearly $1.4 million to Juana Díaz
More than $1 million to Villalba

For more on this story go to: http://caribbeanbusiness.com/fema-approves-140-million-more-for-recovery-in-puerto-rico/

IMAGE: FEMA logo