FEMA marks 11,000 obligated projects after María: over 33.9 billion

FEMA marked a milestone in Puerto Rico’s recovery: more than 11,000 projects have already been obligated to address Hurricane María damage. Those projects represent over 33.9 billion destined exclusively for María, and most go to restoring permanent infrastructure.

Obligating is not the same as disbursing. When FEMA obligates, it commits the funds; then the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3) can start moving the money so works can begin. The agency’s release, dated July 11, 2024 (NR 624), underscores that nuance without talking about total spending or diversion.

“The agency continues obligating projects, each of great weight and value within the reconstruction of our island. Each obligated project represents a crucial step toward completing reconstruction and securing the island’s resilience against future disasters,” said federal Disaster Recovery coordinator José G. Baquero.

Among recent obligations, FEMA cites about 1.7 million to the municipality of Cayey to restore Pedro Montañez Stadium, home of the Toritos of Double-A, a venue for community events and an emergency operations center. The package includes paint, roofs, gutters, electrical and structural infrastructure, a sound system, monitor and electronic scoreboard, plus about 201,000 in mitigation to reinforce fencing and sliding doors and reduce leaks.

In Yauco, the María Cecilia Franceschi Museum of Art and History — a 1915 structure — has over 212,000 for roofs, windows and wood flooring, with mitigation funds for drainage and leaks. In Las Piedras, about 65,000 goes to the Veterans Building (American Legion and possible shelter), with replacement of roofs and walls, resistant doors and windows, solar panels and LED lighting, plus mitigation on fencing, poles and lamps.

COR3 executive director Manuel A. Laboy Rivera said those obligations are essential so municipalities, agencies and nonprofits, with COR3 technical support, can start reconstruction within the scope of work and applicable laws. Since 2021, he added, they have pushed initiatives so subrecipients can execute permanent work and mitigation with funds already obligated by FEMA.