Senate passes $36.5B disaster aid bill; Trump signature next

The Senate passed a $36.5 billion emergency aid measure Tuesday to refill disaster accounts, provide a much-needed cash infusion to Puerto Rico, and bail out the federal flood insurance program. The 82-17 vote sends the measure to the White House, where President Donald Trump is sure to sign it.

Puerto Rico seeks renewable energy future with Tesla

A Puerto Rican official who has been in talks with Tesla Inc said the island is serious about transforming its energy infrastructure after it was leveled by Category 4 Hurricane Maria, despite questions about how such an overhaul would be funded. A Puerto Rican official who has been in talks with Tesla Inc said the island is serious about transforming its energy infrastructure after it was leveled by Category 4 Hurricane Maria, despite questions about how such an overhaul would be funded.

Trump meets with Puerto Rico Governor, praises recovery work post-Maria

Repeatedly praising the work of the military and federal emergency officials, President Donald Trump used a Thursday meeting at the White House with the Governor of Puerto Rico to proclaim the disaster relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Maria to be a success, pushing back against critics who say much still needs to be done to restore power and other basic services. "I would give a 10," the President said, ticking off a list of efforts made by FEMA and the military in Puerto Rico, as he sat with the Governor of the island in the Oval Office.

Black Knight’s First Look at September 2017 Mortgage Data: Hurricanes …

Black Knight's First Look at September 2017 Mortgage Data: Hurricanes Irma and Harvey Drive Surge in Past-Due Mortgages Nationally, the number of non-current mortgages jumped by 214,000 , driven primarily by fallout from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma FEMA-declared hurricane disaster areas accounted for the bulk of the increases; non-current inventory rose by 84,000 in Irma disaster areas and 52,000 in those related to Harvey Prior to the hurricanes, Texas and Florida ranked 20th and 22nd among states by non-current mortgage rates; after the storms, they now rank 3rd and 5th respectively Primarily as a result of hurricane impact, September saw the first annual rise in mortgage delinquencies since July 2010 Monthly foreclosure starts were at their lowest in more than 17 years, with starts down as much as 90 percent in areas covered by post-hurricane foreclosure action moratoria JACKSONVILLE, ... (more)

Operation Blue Roof Application Deadline Approaches in U.S. Virgin Islands

ST. CROIX, Virgin Islands - Time is running out for Virgin Island hurricane survivors to sign up with Operation Blue Roof for free temporary roofing repairs to their homes. Friday, November 3, is the final day for residents on all U.S. Virgin Islands to apply.

Puerto Rico and Federal Partners Unite to Address Power Restoration Needs

Over the next several months, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority , United States Army Corps of Engineers , the Department of Energy, and private industry will unite to restore emergency power to Puerto Rico's electric grid, which was heavily damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria. Currently, only 14 percent of Puerto Rico has electricity.

Melania Trump Issues PSA for Hurricane Relief

First lady Melania Trump is encouraging Americans to take action in a new public service announcement following the devastating damage of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. "The President and I have witnessed firsthand the compassion and commitment of Americans as friends, neighbors, and strangers continue to volunteer time and money to help one another following the recent hurricanes," Trump said in the video, which was recorded last week in the White House library.

President Trump’s tweets on Puerto Rico were beyond the pale

When it comes to President Donald Trump fulfilling his role as leader of the federal government, nothing he has said has been as awful as his Thursday remarks on Twitter that the United States might soon stop helping Puerto Rico - a part of our nation since 1898 - recover from Hurricane Maria. "Electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes," he tweeted.

US House speaker vows to secure money needed by Puerto Rico

House Speaker Paul Ryan vowed to help Puerto Rico secure the money it needs to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria after touring the disaster zone Friday and seeing what he called the "dire conditions" facing many across the island. Ryan toured the island in a helicopter at the head of a congressional delegation and met with local officials and representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the first time since Maria swept across the entire island as a fierce Category 4 hurricane.

Hurricane-Battered Flood Insurance Program In Need of Funding

The U.S. National Flood Insurance Program, struggling with the costs of this year's record hurricane season, will run out of money as early as Oct. 23 unless Congress takes action. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which runs the taxpayer-subsidized flood insurance program, "estimates potentially exhausting available NFIP funds the week of October 23," the agency said in a statement.

Trump lashes out at Puerto Rico as House passes aid package

President Donald Trump lashed out at hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico on Thursday, insisting in tweets that the federal government can't keep sending help "forever" and suggesting the U.S. territory was to blame for its financial struggles. His broadsides triggered an outcry from Democrats in Washington and officials on the island, which has been reeling since Hurricane Maria struck three weeks ago, leaving death and destruction in an unparalleled humanitarian crisis.