FEMA, COR3 award $44M+ to University of P.R. system
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Puerto Rico Central Office of Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency, or COR3, have awarded more than $44 million in federal grants to the University of Puerto Rico to cover costs for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane María.
The awards bring the amount of funds obligated under FEMA’s Public Assistance program to nearly $6 billion, the agency said.
The funds will cover costs related to mold and roof damage in over 18,000 rooms and more than 500 buildings across 11 campuses.
The latest grants are as follows:
- Nearly $1.4 million to the Aguadilla Campus
- More than $1.7 million to the Arecibo Campus
- More than $2.7 million to the Bayamón Campus
- More than $1.4 million to the Carolina Campus
- More than $3.1 million to the Cayey Campus
- More than $2.9 million to the Ciencias Médicas Campus
- More than $3.1 million to the Humacao Campus
- More than $11.3 million to the Mayagüez Campus
- More than $2.3 million to the Ponce Campus
- More than $11.9 million to the Río Piedras Campus
- More than $2.2 million to the university’s Central Administration
Emergency protective measures are actions taken to eliminate or lessen immediate threats either to lives, public health or safety, or significant additional damage to public or private property in a cost-effective manner.
“Our priority in this phase of the recovery is obligating funds and this latest obligation to the University of Puerto Rico represents an important step so that other permanent work can begin. We continue working side by side with COR3 to expedite recovery funding,” Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator Alex Amparo said.
Ottmar Chávez-Piñero, executive director for COR3 recognized FEMA’s collaborative work and assured that the obligation of funds for the university is a great accomplishment.
“Rebuilding the primary higher education institution on the island is of the utmost importance and we look forward to announcing obligations like this soon,” Chávez said.
“We have accomplished so much in the past 100 days; nevertheless, there’s so much work left to do and so many more families to assist. The long-term recovery process requires participation from all sectors and we remain committed to achieving this as soon as possible while upholding all federal regulations,” Chávez said.
FEMA works with Puerto Rico’s or COR3, through its Public Assistance program to obligate recovery funds to private nonprofit organizations, municipalities and agencies of the government of Puerto Rico for expenses related to Hurricanes Irma and María.
Assistance is available for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures and the repair, replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged facilities.
FEMA obligates funding to applicants for projects through COR3. For applicants to receive the awarded funds, they must provide required documentation to ensure conformity with local and federal requirements.
