President Trump increased federal assistance to Hurricane Irma-ravaged Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, the White House announced on Sunday.
The president also declared Puerto Rico, a US commonwealth, a major disaster are and ordered federal aid to bolster recovery efforts.
“Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” the White House press office said in a statement.
“Federal funding is also available to the Commonwealth and to eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Irma in the municipalities of Culebra and Vieques,” it added. “Furthermore, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures throughout the Commonwealth.”
He also made made available disaster assistant to the US Virgin Islands.
“Under the President’s major disaster declaration issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands on September 7, 2017, Federal funding was made available for Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and Other Needs Assistance at 75 percent Federal funding of total eligible costs,” the office said in a statement.
“President Trump increased cost sharing to 90 percent Federal funding for debris removal, including direct Federal assistance, and 100 percent Federal funding for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for 30 days from the start of the incident period, and then a 90 percent Federal cost share thereafter.”