President Declares Major Disaster for Puerto Rico After October Storms

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides on Oct. 9-15 2005.

Acting FEMA Director, R. David Paulison, said President Bush declared a major disaster in Puerto Rico authorizing federal funding in the municipalities of Aibonito, Juana Díaz, Lares, Maricao, Penuelas, Ponce, Salinas, Santa Isabel, Utuado, Villalba, Yabucoa, and Yauco. Additional designations may be declared at a later date if requested by the Commonwealth as determined by the results of further damage assessments.

Federal funding is available to the Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private non-profit organizations on a cost sharing basins for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures throughout the principal island of Puerto Rico within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.