New York – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported this Tuesday that it is working with more than 11,000 recovery projects in Puerto Rico and that it has obligated some $33.2 billion so far alone for work related to Hurricane María.
The data is contained in a report named “PUERTO RICO: from recovery to resilience – Region 2 Interim Progress Report”, in which the agency recognizes that there is work ahead, but says it is committed to continuing to work with the authorities on the island to move forward with the completion of more projects.
“While there is a great deal of work ahead and thousands of reconstruction projects that have not yet begun, FEMA is committed to continuing to work with the government of Puerto Rico to provide the technical assistance and help they need to continue moving forward in the recovery. “This is a complex mission that will produce important results in all sectors, and FEMA will be present every step of the way,” said the federal entity.
According to Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator, the 16-page document is a roadmap to understand the status of the projects as efforts continue to advance the recovery and reconstruction of the island.
“Transformation takes time and this recovery overview shows tangible examples of where we are now, and what we can expect as we continue on the path to recovery. The before and after images in this report serve as a testament to the hard work being done at the site. They are also visual examples of the perseverance and dedication of our staff on the island, many of whom call Puerto Rico home. The recovery in Puerto Rico is far from over and FEMA will offer its support there for as long as necessary. Our staff on the island is committed to a resilient recovery and that these unprecedented efforts continue to have a positive effect on the people who matter most: the residents of Puerto Rico,” says FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, in a message that forms part of the report.
The impact of Hurricane Maria
The report begins with the mention of the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria on the island in September 201, and the subsequent onslaught of Fiona in September 2022.
“The entire island was left without power, leaving most residents without power for months. Around 40,000 landslides covered roads and isolated entire municipalities, disrupting transportation and making it almost impossible to reach many survivors by land. Less than three years later, a series of earthquakes shook the island, causing damage mainly to towns in the south. In 2022, Hurricane Fiona arrived and exacerbated the ongoing recovery efforts and accentuated the fragility of the electrical service network,” FEMA lists.
FEMA Accelerated Obligation Strategy (FAASt)
Next, FEMA mentions one of the measures implemented to streamline the processes. FEMA’s Accelerated Obligation Strategy (FAASt) allowed critical infrastructure projects to be grouped in order to extrapolate the costs in each group to arrive at an overall estimate.
Under the strategy, $9.4 billion have been granted to the Electric Power Authority (PREPA); $3,600 million to the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AEE) and $2,000 million to the Department of Education.
“To further streamline recovery and boost construction activities, FEMA worked on a strategy to accelerate critical infrastructure obligations on the island. This was accomplished by grouping facilities with similar disaster damage and extrapolating the costs in each group to arrive at an overall cost estimate. The result is known as FEMA’s Accelerated Obligation Strategy, which fueled the agency’s largest single funding obligation; more than $9.4 billion to rebuild Puerto Rico’s electrical grid. Later other projects used this strategy, including the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority and the Puerto Rico Department of Education,” the report states while highlighting the importance of acquiring temporary generators for the power plants in Palo Seco and San Juan to maintain network stability after Hurricane Fiona.
Working Group for the Stabilization of the Puerto Rico Electric Service System
In that sense, the document highlights the creation of the Working Group for the Stabilization of the Puerto Rico Electric Service System, less than a month after Fiona’s attack. The group, led by US Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, proposes measures to improve the electric grid’s transmission and distribution system.
“The ability to keep temporary generators in operation supports grid stability while repair, maintenance and reconstruction of the electrical infrastructure is carried out. This is essential so that the ongoing recovery efforts for previous disasters can continue,” defends FEMA.
Another program that the agency highlights in the report is the “Working Capital Advance” that began in 2022 as a way to “identify and remove barriers to recovery.”
“Through this pilot, municipalities, government agencies and others with FEMA-funded permanent works projects have the capital they need to enter into contracts and begin construction work. Although the program originally prioritized municipal projects and certain energy grid projects, the initiative was expanded to include all permanent works projects and, starting in April 2023, projects specifically designed to address future risks,” FEMA states in the compilation.
Another priority issue for FEMA is the development of cost-effective mitigation projects for electric utilities, as well as climate resilience.
Along these lines, FEMA was awarded the implementation of the “Cost and Benefit Analysis” throughout the island.
“The system evaluates the profitability of risk mitigation measures for the electrical grid and helps improve climate resilience by allowing the evaluation of several projects simultaneously. This process increases FEMA’s efficiency and further simplifies recovery by avoiding duplication of benefits, duplication of programs, and making the network more resilient. Through this methodology, the Government of Puerto Rico can maximize financing for risk mitigation, increase transparency and simplify the island’s energy infrastructure,” the report adds.
As a resiliency measure, FEMA also awarded nearly $80 million to enforce building codes on the island in an effort to eliminate informal developments. “Currently, this project is in the implementation stage and 55% completed. The results of this effort will minimize informal construction and mark an important step in the island’s progress toward a more resilient future. “This and other mitigation grants will help Puerto Rico improve its recovery for generations and make the island safer and stronger,” the federal agency bets.
The importance of communities in the process
For the entity, attached to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), community participation and participation of residents of the affected areas is key. FEMA notes that it used feedback from that sector to improve the design of recovery efforts and adjust them to the needs of the population.
“This collaboration ensures better outcomes by integrating community priorities and concerns into recovery planning. Through its Community Planning and Capacity Building division, FEMA coordinated mapping exercises with different municipalities to identify vulnerable communities and help develop solutions-based activities. In Naranjito, for example, FEMA helped develop a Google map with interactive functions and provided workshops to help visualize and plan the revitalization of their town,” the document mentions.
The agency also indicated that, to evaluate the coastal effects caused by Hurricane María, FEMA awarded more than $1.4 million for a coastal damage study carried out by the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). “The project presented findings on the conditions of Puerto Rico’s beaches after Hurricane María and identified erosion, accumulation and stable coastal areas in the island’s 44 coastal municipalities,” the report explains.
The scope of the PR100 study
FEMA also alludes to the two-year PR100 study, led by DOE, the full version of which was released on April 1.
The “Puerto Rico Electric Grid Resilience Study and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy” analyzes and makes recommendations on ways for Puerto Rico to achieve 100% renewable energy between now and 2050.
“The results of the study demonstrate that a transition to renewable energy is possible through significant improvements to the existing system. The three measures in the study illustrate a resilient energy system in the future for Puerto Rico’s most remote communities. This aligns with the island’s vision regarding land use interests and allows for distributed and local ownership of energy generation,” FEMA notes about the investigation for which it allocated $15 million.
The FEMA report ends with images of completed projects; those who have obligated funds; and others in progress with the date on which they will be completed.
Among those completed are the Buena Vista Water Tank, in Humacao; the El Alemán Bridge, in Jayuya; COSSMA Medical Facility, in San Lorenzo; and the Julián Hernández highway, in Barranquitas.
Among the projects expected to be completed this year is the Susana Centeno Medical Facility in Vieques by September.
Precisely, yesterday, El Diario published the fifth and final article on the disbursement of FEMA funds on the island as part of a special series on recovery and reconstruction efforts in the territory.
Below is the list of reports:
Interview: FEMA examines the possibility of adjusting inflation costs to advance reconstruction projects in Puerto Rico
FEMA Funds in Puerto Rico: Agency responds to denials of Individual Assistance (IHP) due to lack of ownership documents
FEMA funds in Puerto Rico: COR3 director considers GAO report on slow use of money for permanent work incomplete
FEMA Funds in Puerto Rico: Impediments to obtain individual disaster assistance continue 6 years after Hurricane María