MUNICIPALITIES HAVE FEMA SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR RECOVERY
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210812/municipalities-have-fema-support-throughout-their-recovery]


Release Date: 
8월 12, 2021 

_So far, nearly $2 billion has been obligated for permanent work
across all 78 municipalities of the island_

GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO – As the obligations of funds from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continue to move forward for
recovery projects as a result of Hurricane María, the close
collaboration between the federal agency and municipalities is
evident. Together with the Central Office for Recovery,
Reconstruction, and Resiliency, known as COR3, FEMA’s personnel
continuously offers technical support and updates on the ongoing
recovery work that benefits communities.

Over 5,100 municipal projects to repair roads, community centers and
public buildings that provide services to the community, among other
permanent work, have already received a funding obligation. 

“Each municipality is unique and has projects that are of high
priority for its residents. Our goal is to support the mayors and
municipal officials so that they have the tools and knowledge they
need to maximize this historic opportunity that will have a positive
impact on the future generations of the island,” said Federal
Disaster Recovery Coordinator for FEMA, José Baquero. 

In the past few months, visits have been held between FEMA senior
leadership and over 20 municipalities to discuss joint goals, identify
challenges and implement solutions and next steps to ensure a
successful recovery. These meetings are complemented by ongoing
discussions and guidance provided by the FEMA and COR3 teams on
projects under development.

“These meetings are fundamental to maintaining an open channel of
communication between the municipalities and all the local and federal
agencies that are part of the recovery and reconstruction process.”
Said the Mayor of Aguada, Christian Cortés Feliciano. In addition,
the official highlighted the economic impact of these projects, in
particular the progress of the Fine Arts Center of Aguada, which
spearheads the sociocultural development of the region.

Likewise, the Mayor of Barranquitas, Elliot Colón Blanco, was pleased
and said that currently, together with FEMA, they are determined to
finish the pending projects. “We want to achieve 100 percent of the
projects that have been reported so that all the people from
Barranquitas have the joy of seeing Barranquitas as it was before
María. I have to thank FEMA for the efforts they have made so far,
and we know that they will be working hand in hand with us,” he
added.

“In accordance with Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi's public policy of
facilitating the processes related to reconstruction, keeping with
federal and state regulations and laws, we are working as a team with
FEMA officials to address the concerns of the mayors and remove
obstacles that prevent the development of projects. The rebuilding of
Puerto Rico has already begun and there are hundreds of recovery
projects completed and others under construction. At the moment,
approximately $151,393,000 has been disbursed in permanent
reconstruction works due to the damage caused by Hurricane Maria. Our
commitment is to continue working hand in hand with the subrecipients
to renew Puerto Rico's infrastructure for the benefit of our
people,” said COR3 Executive Director Manuel A. Laboy Rivera.

For more information on the recovery of Puerto Rico after Hurricane
María, visit fema.gov/es/disaster/4339
[http://www.fema.gov/es/disaster/4339] and recuperacion.pr
[http://www.recuperacion.pr/]. Follow us on social media
Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico [http://www.facebook.com/femapuertorico],
Facebook.com/COR3pr [http://www.facebook.com/cor3pr] and Twitter
@COR3pr [https://twitter.com/cor3pr].

 [FEMA Senior leadership and municipal officials in Puerto Rico] 
YAUCO, PUERTO RICO (August 9, 2021) – In the past few months, visits
have been held between FEMA senior leadership and over 20
municipalities to discuss joint goals, identify challenges and
implement solutions and next steps to ensure a successful recovery.
FEMA/Eduardo Martínez

 [FEMA Senior leadership, municipal officials and Resident
Commissioner of Puerto Rico] 
YAUCO, PUERTO RICO (August 9, 2021) – As the obligations of funds
from FEMA continue to move forward for recovery projects as a result
of Hurricane María, the close collaboration between the federal
agency and municipalities is evident. FEMA/Eduardo Martínez

 [Municipal officials putting the first stone for the Communal Center
in Barranquitas.] 
BARRANQUITAS, PUERTO RICO (August 4, 2021) – Over 5,100 municipal
projects to repair roads, community centers and public buildings that
provide services to the community, among other permanent work, have
already received a funding obligation from FEMA. FEMA/Eduardo
Martínez 

 [COR3 and FEMA officials in a meeting about ongoing recovery] 
COROZAL, PUERTO RICO (August 10, 2021) – Together with COR3,
FEMA’s personnel continuously offers technical support and updates
on the ongoing recovery work that benefits communities. FEMA/Juan
Andrés Muñoz