HURRICANE IRMA: TRUMP OKAYS EMERGENCY FOR PUERTO RICO, FLORIDA, VIRGIN ISLANDS

WASHINGTON, United States – President Donald Trump of the United States has approved emergency declaration for the states of Florida, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricane Irma with effect from September 05, 2017.

The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, the White House said in a statement.
The statement added that the action will help alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency may inflict on the local population, and provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property, and ensure public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all of the islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands and to avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 67 counties in the Florida,.

“Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

“Brock Long, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Justo Hernández as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas”, the statement said.

With regard to Puerto Rico, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

“Brock Long, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Alejandro DeLaCampa as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas”, the White House said.