GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico — FEMA and the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3) are giving Puerto Rico $5.4 million in additional funding toward recovery and reconstruction.

Over $6 billion has been approved, to date, for Puerto Rico's recovery related to Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria under the FEMA Public Assistance program. These are the latest grants award to the island, according to the agency:

  • Over $2 million for repairs to roads and bridges
  • Over $1.3 million for emergency protective measures
  • Nearly $909,000 for debris removal
  • Nearly $510,000 for repairs to public buildings and equipment
  • Nearly $390,000 to municipal governments for administrative costs
  • Over $188,000 for work related to parks and recreational facilities
  • Nearly $42,000 for repairs to public utilities

Many of the funded projects in progress are trying to help to reduce the "damage-rebuild-damage" cycle that comes with restoring structures to pre-disaster conditions, said FEMA in a press release. Ultimately, officials want to assure that Puerto Rico can withstand another storm.

FEMA in its press release said funding for permanent work "includes projects like roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and park and recreation facilities as authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act."

FEMA collaborates with COR3 to give recovery funds to "nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico" to help fund recovery projects related to Irma and Maria.