The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on Thursday the approval of $91 million in funds to mitigate disasters caused in Puerto Rico by Hurricane María in 2017 and the 2020 earthquakes. The majority of the funds, $39.7 million, will go to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (AEE) to clear low-density vegetation from the electrical distribution network in the Ponce area.
Additionally, $5.1 million was approved for the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) to repair the Barrancas water treatment plant and the intake of untreated water, damaged by Hurricane María. The Puerto Rico Department of Education (DE) will receive $5 million to repair four two-story buildings at the Bethzaida Velázquez Andújar School, damaged by the 2020 earthquakes.
The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) will receive $3.6 million to repair two buildings that suffered damage from Hurricane María. FEMA will also provide $4 million to the Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal Movimiento Internacional to repair three buildings of the Iglesia Boca Guayanilla that were damaged by the 2020 earthquakes.