An estimated 349,000 homes and businesses were still without power on Wednesday after Hurricane Fiona hit parts of Puerto Rico on September 18.
The entire island of Puerto Rico lost power after Hurricane Fiona brought damaging winds and devastating flooding to the U.S. territory. The hurricane caused an island-wide power outage that affected 3.3 million people.
Puerto Rico was filled with up to 2 feet of water that washed away bridges, and carved chasms in the ground.
U.S. President Biden has approved an Emergency Declaration for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and authorized Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with emergency measures to save lives and protect property, public health, and safety.
The U.S. government has also temporarily waived a federal law and allow foreign diesel deliveries to Puerto Rico as it faces a dwindling supply of fuel nearly two weeks after Hurricane Fiona battered the U.S. territory.
The announcement comes a day after requests from Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, the archbishop of San Juan and others so that the Puerto Rican people have sufficient diesel to run generators needed for electricity.
As of September 28, there are over 1,000 Federal response workers in Puerto Rico supporting operations, planning, power restoration, debris removal, and urban search and rescue.
FEMA prepositioned supplies on the island including more than 7 million liters of water, more than 4 million ready-to-eat meals, more than 215 generators, more than 100,000 tarps, more than 28,000 plastic covers and more than 10,300 cots and other emergency supplies.
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration has announced the $8 million in Emergency Relief funds for use by the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority.