Sep 22, 2022 - Politics & Policy

Biden admin to cover Hurricane Fiona recovery costs for next month

Damage caused by Hurricane Fiona is seen on Sept. 20, 2022. Photo: ERIKA SANTELICES/afp/AFP via Getty Images

President Biden announced Thursday that the federal government will cover 100% of costs for the next month as Puerto Rico recovers from Hurricane Fiona.

Driving the news: The move, which will surge federal resources, comes a day after Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Puerto Rico and ordered federal aid to assist with recovery efforts.

  • The costs that will be covered include debris removal, search and rescue, power and water restoration, shelter and food, the president said.

What he's saying: "We're laser-focused on what's happening to the people of Puerto Rico again," Biden said, noting that just five years ago, Hurricane Maria also devastated the island.

The big picture: Earlier this week, Hurricane Fiona knocked out power to hundreds of thousands in the Dominican Republic and the entire island of Puerto Rico, and has been linked to at least five deaths.

By the numbers: Nearly a million people remained without power and nearly 359,000 had no running water or only intermittent service in the U.S. territory on Thursday, according to government data.

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