WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to supplement commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions in the area affected by Hurricane Irma beginning on September 5, 2017 and continuing.

The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 78 municipalities in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

Alejandro DeLaCampa has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area. DeLaCampa said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO EMERGENCY DECLARATION

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Donald J. Trump’s emergency disaster declaration issued for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Assistance for the Commonwealth and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

• FEMA is authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.

• Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide debris removal (Category A) and emergency protective measures (Category B), including to direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding.

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