FEMA council to visit Puerto Rico to evaluate disaster response

By The Star Staff

The FEMA Review Council will visit the island on Sept. 24, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced Thursday.

The visit is part of a series of sessions being held in various jurisdictions across the United States. It is also part of a strategy that the governor, along with the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA), the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resiliency (COR3), and the Department of Public Safety, is implementing to position Puerto Rico as a key player in evaluating and reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its processes for disaster response and recovery.

The FEMA Review Council was established by President Donald Trump through Executive Order 14180 to assess FEMA’s capacity to respond effectively and impartially to disasters nationwide. The council is also responsible for recommending changes that will strengthen the agency and enhance its performance to better serve the national interest.

During its visit to Puerto Rico, the council will hold an executive hearing convened by the governor, where agency heads will participate to provide direct input on the proposed FEMA reforms. The discussions are part of a broader national effort to ensure that all communities, including those in Puerto Rico, are actively involved in the process.

“It is essential that Puerto Rico actively participates in this review process,” González Colón said. “We have experienced firsthand the challenges posed by emergencies and natural disasters, and it is crucial that these realities be factored into any proposed reforms. The visit of the FEMA Review Council represents a unique opportunity to ensure that our priorities translate into concrete actions from Washington. This is part of our administration’s proactive effort to contribute solutions to the national conversation and to ensure that FEMA becomes a more agile and less bureaucratic agency that directly addresses the needs of our communities. As Resident Commissioner, I secured the allocation of the largest reconstruction funds in Puerto Rico’s history, and now, as Governor, my priority is to ensure that these resources are utilized quickly and effectively.”

The island government reiterated its commitment to working closely with the council and the Trump administration to strengthen disaster response mechanisms, enhance community capacity, and ensure that resources reach those most in need in a timely and effective manner.