Three towns added to state of emergency

Over the weekend, Public Safety Secretary Arthur Garffer toured the affected areas in Vega Alta and Vega Baja with the respective mayors, María Vega and Marcos Cruz, and other officials.

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has accepted the recommendation of Public Safety (DSP by its initials in Spanish) Secretary Gen. Arturo Garffer to include the municipalities of Cabo Rojo, Las Piedras and Vega Baja in the current state of emergency necessitated by weeks of heavy rain.

On Sunday, La Fortaleza said most of the aid to the municipalities under the declaration will be paid for with state funds. Officials did not have a total amount in damages.

The decision to add three more towns is part of the island government’s ongoing response to the torrential rains that have affected numerous regions since April 19. The recommendation was made after the aforementioned three municipalities submitted the necessary documentation and the DSP completed its assessment of the damages in their areas.

“We are continuing to work swiftly and with commitment alongside the mayors to ensure that each affected community receives the necessary support,” González Colón said. “I thank Secretary Garffer for the coordinated efforts that have enabled an effective and timely response to this emergency.”

With the action, the total number of municipalities officially declared under a state of emergency has risen to 13: Aguas Buenas, Corozal, Naranjito, Orocovis, Ciales, Cidra, Utuado, Caguas, Lares, Vega Alta, Cabo Rojo, Las Piedras and Vega Baja.

Over the weekend, Garffer toured the affected areas in Vega Alta and Vega Baja with the respective mayors, María Vega and Marcos Cruz. They were also joined by Sen. Gabriel González of the Arecibo District and Rep. Elinette González Aguayo. The tour was part of a collaborative effort between the central government, municipal authorities, and the legislative assembly to address the needs of the impacted communities directly.

Garffer said the municipalities will be considered for a $100,000 advance for mitigation and immediate response efforts.

“Our priority is to ensure that funds urgently reach those areas most in need,” he said. “This effort continues.”

The DSP, meanwhile, is actively evaluating additional requests and maintaining constant communication with municipalities, so there is a possibility that more towns may be added in the future. For a municipality to be evaluated, it must submit a request along with the required documentation, including a report of damages that have occurred between April 19 and the present.