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Biden pledges a month of aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona [Video]

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:


  • President Joe Biden approved federal funding to cover 100% of costs for the next month as Puerto Rico recovers from Hurricane Fiona.
  • The president said the costs will cover debris removal, search and rescue, power and water restoration, and shelter and food.
  • Puerto Rico has not fully recovered after Hurricane Maria devastated the island five years ago, killing nearly 3,000 people.

President Joe Biden announced Thursday that the federal government would fully cover the costs related to Hurricane Fiona aid in Puerto Rico for the next month.

“I’ve authorized 100% — 100% federal funding for debris removal, search and rescue, water restoration and shelter and food for the whole month,” Biden said. “To the people of Puerto Rico who are still hurting from Hurricane Maria five years later, they should know that we are with you. We’re not going to walk away. I mean it.”

Hurricane Fiona left more than 1.4 million people in Puerto Rico without power and caused catastrophic damage across the island. It dropped up to 30 inches of rain in some regions, cutting electricity and access to running water for most of the residents.

Biden announced the support at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 2 headquarters at One World Trade Center in New York City. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell sat beside Biden at the briefing.

On Wednesday, Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Puerto Rico. He already made an emergency declaration on Sunday before the hurricane made landfall. That declaration allowed FEMA to directly give funds to those affected for temporary housing and home repairs. It also allowed FEMA to offer low-cost loans.

Criswell traveled to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to assess the damage Hurricane Fiona left.

“We’re laser-focused on what’s happened to people in Puerto Rico again. We’re talking almost to the day, at least to the week, five years after Hurricane Maria was devastating [the island],” Biden said. “We’re surging federal resources to Puerto Rico and we’ll do everything, everything we can to reach the urgent needs they have.”

One of Biden’s pledges during the campaign was to provide aid to Puerto Rico. He took a swipe at former President Donald Trump, saying his predecessor “made things worse” for the island with his response to Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Five years ago, Hurricane Maria devastated the island, killing nearly 3,000 people.

Source: CNBC

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9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. EJP49

    September 24, 2022 at 6:49 pm

    Look Out!!! That Fraud now is Buying PR, just in case Dems get Lucky or pull some Unconstitutional move to get PR in their side. They need help ,not saying they don’t, but Again! This addmin DOESN’T CARE ABOUT AMERICA and LEGAL CITIZENS.

    • Leslie

      September 24, 2022 at 7:09 pm

      Exactly. Just wildly spending more money. Doesn’t care if it gets wasted or in whose pockets it ends up in.

  2. Barry Ingram

    September 24, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    Send Joe Biden to Puerto Rico he needs a long rest

  3. CPO Bill

    September 24, 2022 at 7:21 pm

    I’m sure there is waste and corruption, but hopefully those in real need will get help!

  4. Tom K

    September 24, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    Biden is helping not only Puerto Rico, but sending Billions and billions in money and military aid to a Communist dictator named VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY in Ukraine. This war is dictator vs dictator, and is not about freedom. Yes there are many good people in both countries, but both have tyrannical dictators at the head.
    Why does Biden not give money to the farmers, the food industry, the gas industry in the way of pipelines, to the energy grid which needs massive upgrading of old worn out pipes, lines, infrastructure, etc, water systems and resources, and all the Needs of the American people? Because a hungry, thirsty, homeless person is easily controllable, and becomes a slave of Government.

  5. Roger Buggle

    September 24, 2022 at 9:43 pm

    Another Clinton effort to embezzle money! Puerto Rico very well needs aid from this devastating hurricane but as you see this lost person from the funeral he attended for Queen Elizabeth ll is the last individual in the United States to be writing a check for any amount. True citizens of the United States realize a moronic effort from a depleted individual on all accounts!

  6. Bif

    September 24, 2022 at 11:27 pm

    He needs to send money to our vets that defended this country from people like himself and entire cabinet! Our people should be the first, to receive any government or taxed money!

  7. RSM4

    September 24, 2022 at 11:54 pm

    Biden is not worried. The MSM has been gushing about his promises of aid from the first moment. I imagine the MSM will ignore all problems where billions in Federal aid will disappear into Dems pockets like it did after the last hurricane. For all the supposed “total devastation” last time, Congressional Dems spent a week in luxury resorts in PR about three months after the event. Of course, MSM cameras stayed away. I still remember Rep Nadler screaming at a Fox news crew to leave the area.

  8. Sean Richman

    September 25, 2022 at 10:03 pm

    That is the ONLY thing that biden is good at,spending other peoples money,ours,not his.

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