The President of the United States, Joe Biden, will announce during his visit to Puerto Rico this Monday more than 60 million dollars in funds for projects that mitigate flooding in the event of hurricanes on the island.
These funds, granted through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, are intended to secure levees and strengthen walls against flooding in the US Commonwealth. According to a White House official.
They also seek to create a new flood warning system to help Puerto Rico prepare for future storms, after Hurricane Fiona left the past 18 September large flooded areas.
Biden, in his first official visit as president to Puerto Rico, will also announce a new effort by the entire US Government, led by the Department of Energy, to make make the island’s energy grid more secure and resist te.
Fiona damaged more than half of the transmission lines and distribution feeders, causing a general blackout on the island, where almost the 10 % of the population is still without electricity two weeks after the hurricane.
Biden is expected to arrive at the Mercedita international airport in the southern city of Ponce at 14: 00 local time (18: 00 GMT). He will be informed of the damage caused by Fiona and will visit the Centro Sor Isolina Ferré Aguayo school.
Accompanied by the first lady Jill Biden, will meet there with families and community leaders affected by Hurricane Fiona, which has caused at least 25 deaths.
In Ponce, they will participate in a community service project to package food and essentials and thank federal and local officials who have helped with recovery and rebuilding efforts.
The president will also receive an update about the recovery efforts on the island that, when it was affected by Fiona, was still in the reconstruction phase due to the damage caused by Hurricane María five years ago.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell, will accompany the president on this trip and the first lady.
Since taking office, Biden has made it a priority to support the long-term recovery of Puerto Rico and increase the island’s ability to withstand future storms, said the official from the White House.
Last February, the Biden-Harris administration released 1,300 million dollars so that Puerto Rico can protect itself against future weather disasters and removed certain restrictions that restricted the island’s ability to access nearly $5,000 in additional funds for recovery and reconstruction.
The damage caused by the hurricane Fiona have not yet been quantified, although the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, described them as “catastrophic”, requesting the declaration of major disaster to Biden, who approved it.
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