BEACHES PREPARE WITH FEMA FUNDS FOR THIS SUMMER’S WAVE OF VISITORS
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230524/beaches-prepare-fema-funds-summers-wave-visitors]


Release Date: 
5월 24, 2023 

_Over $9 million from federal agency support the reconstruction of
these recreational areas_

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – The seaside towns of Aguadilla, Carolina and
Manatí recently received nearly $1.6 million from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to restore its beaches. This
obligation is part of over $9 million that the agency has earmarked
for recreative areas in these and other beaches of the island.

Alanys Liranza González is one of the 8,000 people who frequently
visits the Carolina Public Beach and she is glad to be back. “The
atmosphere is always pleasant and practical, and the restoration of
the area motivates one to return. The facilities have been great to
bring friends and celebrate activities here.”

Due to its proximity to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport,
the Carolina Public Beach — which will receive nearly $591,000 from
the agency — is one of the beaches on the northeast coast with the
largest number of visitors.

“With repairs completed and others in progress, the projects are
already underway so that all Puerto Ricans can enjoy the variety of
beaches on the island. Furthermore, the works are part of the 87
percent of Public Assistance projects that include mitigation measures
to protect these spaces from future disasters,” said Federal
Disaster Recovery Coordinator José G. Baquero.

Miguel Hernández is a beach tennis instructor who will soon celebrate
his tenth year of operations at this public beach, serving students
from age five and over 60. “The sport brings the family together,
[and] helps people of different ages to come and participate. The
beach has always been very active and the fact that FEMA granted these
funds to recover the facilities has kept people from all over the
island visiting,” said the businessman.

Moreover, the recreational area of Los Tubos Beach in the Municipality
of Manatí is already in its reconstruction phase, according to Mayor
José Sánchez González. Known for its surfing competitions, Los
Tubos will benefit from over $623,000 to repair gazebos, lighting and
retaining walls, among others. The mayor emphasized that this is a
tourism project that will take place without disturbing the Tortuguero
Lake Natural Reserve, an ecological phenomenon in which the region’s
salty marine waters and the fresh subterranean waters combine.

Ernesto Vélez Gandía, reef restorer and frequent visitor to the
beach, mentioned that communication and community participation was
key in the final design of the project, in which all sectors
participated. “The community will have lots of benefits, firstly
because there will never be a charge for anything, nor will spaces be
restricted to individuals: it is a space for everyone and belongs to
everyone, and that is invaluable. It is a precedent that will last for
all generations, that my grandchildren will enjoy the beach as I did,
that they will enjoy something as beautiful as this and make it
last.”

National events such as bicycle rides and festivals have been held in
Los Tubos. The area is also used for family activities, fishing,
snorkeling and scuba diving. For Caritino Rivera, professional diver
and owner of a scuba diving store in Manatí, his specialty is service
to the tourists and the reconstruction of these facilities is
important because Los Tubos beach “is one of the faces of the town
of Manatí.” He explained that he also gets locals for diving
lessons, as well as surfers from other towns and countries who come
for surfing competitions.

Likewise, for the benefit of the more than 1,000 weekly visitors that
enjoy the Crash Boat Beach, its recreational area will feature new
lighting elements, gazebos, picnic tables and even sand.

Aguadilla Mayor Julio Roldán Concepción said that once the repairs
are completed, for which nearly $340,000 has been earmarked, his goal
is to resume weddings, birthdays, school events and summer festivals,
among others. “We currently have several mobile businesses dedicated
to gastronomy and cocktails. There're also short-term apartments and a
beach restaurant,” he said.

One of those merchants is Alberto Cordero who explained that his
guesthouse and beach business are focused on providing his clients
with a “healthy, calm and beautiful” environment. His business has
been operating since 2017 and as of that same year, he said, “Crash
Boat suffered major damage. Since then, we’ve been working to
improve the beach infrastructure.”

To date, FEMA has awarded over $30,400 million in Public Assistance
funds for about 10,700 projects that will contribute to the
reconstruction of a more resilient Puerto Rico.

For more information about Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane
María, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339
[https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4339] y recovery.pr
[https://recovery.pr.gov/en]. Follow us on social media at
Facebook.com/FEMAPuertoRico [http://www.facebook.com/femapuertorico],
Facebook.com/COR3pr [http://www.facebook.com/cor3pr] and Twitter
@COR3pr [https://twitter.com/cor3pr].

 [View of beach shore with blue and yellow umbrellas and palm trees.] 
Carolina, PUERTO RICO (May 18, 2023) – The Carolina Beach, along
with other beaches in Aguadilla and Manatí, is part of the projects
with over $9 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) for the restoration of recreational areas on Puerto Rico's
beaches. This beach has around 8,000 weekly visitors during its peak
season. Photo FEMA/Eduardo Martínez

 [Aereal view of recreational area of Los Tubos beach shore.] 
Manatí, PUERTO RICO (May 19, 2023) – The recreational area of Los
Tubos Beach in the Municipality of Manatí is already in its
reconstruction phase. Known for its surfing competitions, Los Tubos
will benefit from over $623,000 to repair gazebos, lighting and
retaining walls, among others. Photo FEMA/Eliezer Hernández

 [Aereal view of Crash Boat beach shore.] 
Aguadilla, PUERTO RICO (May 19, 2023) – Crash Boat Beach will be
equipped with replacement lighting elements, gazebos, picnic tables
and even sand, for the benefit of the more than 1,000 weekly visitors
who enjoy the coasts and sunsets in Aguadilla during the summer. Photo
FEMA/Eliezer Hernández