Puerto Rico experiences more than a dozen tremors over the past week

Puerto Rico has experienced dozens of tremors in the past week, some of considerable severity. The strongest of these, measuring 6.4 in magnitude, took place last Tuesday morning, and was followed hours later by a 5.6 quake. Aftershocks have continued since then, with the strongest (5.9 in magnitude) taking place on Saturday morning. While the tremors have been felt all across the Island, the epicenter is the southwest region, where most of the damage has been concentrated.

In addition to causing widespread structural damage, the earthquakes caused interruptions in power and water service across the Island. On Saturday, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority announced that 96.05% of clients had had their service restored, while officials for the Puerto Rico Aqueducts and Sewers Authority declared on Saturday afternoon that 91% of clients were receiving water.  

There has been one confirmed fatality. Property damage has been officially estimated at $110 million, with 539 affected buildings identified so far. This estimate, however, does not fully reflect the severity of the situation: according to at least one economist from the University of Puerto Rico, the tremors, if they continue, could cost Puerto Rico up to $1.35 billion—up to 1.3% of its GDP. Governor Wanda Vásquez Garced, in addition to declaring a state of emergency and freezing prices, has signed a request for a federal declaration of a major emergency. Her administration also distributed $2 million to each of the municipalities with emergency needs – Guánica, Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Ponce, Utuado and Yauco.

Officials, lawmakers consider suing HUD for undistributed emergency funds

Puerto Rico’s latest emergency has once again brought to the forefront the obstacles the Island faces during its recovery from recent disasters, including the continued delays in most of the emergency funds designated for that purpose. Of the billions in Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds appropriated by Congress, $8.3  billion has yet to be disbursed. Despite the latest crisis, there is no evidence that the held-up funds will be made available anytime soon. Given these circumstances, several Puerto Rican officials—including Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González—have begun considering the possibility of suing the federal government for the funds. “There’s no reason for [CDBG-DR funds] to not have occurred already,” she said in an interview with El Nuevo Día.

According to some experts, Puerto Rico’s case is a good one.  “HUD would have to explain the legal basis under which it’s prevented this money from flowing,” attorney Phillip Escoriaza told El Nuevo Día. Suing HUD has also been a topic of discussion among some federal lawmakers, particularly members of the House Hispanic Caucus, who discussed the matter during a Thursday meeting where they also worked out the details on aid for Puerto Rico following the week’s earthquakes.  

San Sebastian Festival to move forward after Mayor considered cancellation

The annual Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastían are often considered the true end of the Holiday season in Puerto Rico. The days-long festival has taken place across Old San Juan for the past 50 years and is a major Puerto Rican cultural event and source of income for the Island’s artisanal community. But in the wake of the recent earthquakes, several government officials and public figures, including Governor Wanda Vásquez Garced and San Juan archbishop Roberto González Nieves, called for its cancellation or postponement. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, who had the final saying over the matter, yesterday decided to move forward but make the event one day shorter. She also promised to make adjustments to the festival, so that the event can benefit municipalities hardest hit by the earthquakes.