More Than $81.6 Million Approved In Federal Aid For Disaster Recovery in Puerto Rico

Release Date: October 11, 2004 Release Number: 1552-020

» More Information on Puerto Rico Tropical Storm Jeanne and Resulting Landslides and Mudslides

» En Español

SAN JUAN, PR -- Federal and commonwealth disaster recovery officials have announced the approval of $81,669,275 in disaster assistance in Puerto Rico. More than 70,500 individuals have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a result of the rains, floods, mudslides and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne on September 14-19, 2004.

“The approval of this aid has been done in less than three weeks after the presidential disaster declaration included Individual Assistance for the recovery operations in Puerto Rico,” said Peter Martinasco, federal coordinating officer. “FEMA, as well as Commonwealth and municipal agencies and several voluntary organizations have been quite diligent in this disaster recovery operation to ensure that Tropical Storm Jeanne victims have habitable conditions.”

The disaster relief funds have been approved under the FEMA Individual and Households Program (IHP), which helps homeowners to perform minimal repairs, provides rental assistance for renters and homeowners whose homes are uninhabitable, and funds for medical, dental, transportation expenses and other disaster-related essential needs.

Residents from the 57 disaster-declared municipalities who suffered losses or damages from the storm are urged to register for assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362. The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585 for those who are speech or hearing-impaired. Both lines are available daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, until further notice. If possible, try calling in the evening after 6:00 p.m. or on weekends when call volume often is lighter. Individuals can also find valuable recovery information on FEMA’s website at http://www.fema.gov.

Callers should have the following information at hand at the moment of the call: a phone number in case we need to call you back, address of the damaged property, Social Security number, brief description of damages, current mailing address, as it appears on the electricity or water bill, and insurance information (if you have insurance).

The municipalities included under the Presidential disaster declaration were Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Añasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamón, Caguas, Camuy, Canóvanas, Carolina, Cataño, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerío, Corozal, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guayama, Hatillo, Humacao, Isabela, Juana Díaz, Juncos, Lares, Las Piedras, Loíza, Manatí, Morovis, Maunabo, Moca, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Quebradillas, Rincón, Río Grande, Salinas, San Lorenzo, San Sebastián, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, and Yabucoa.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.