Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez to Lead Delegation
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that members of her administration departed today for Puerto Rico to assist and assess Hurricane Fiona relief efforts, as the island continues to recover from the devastating storm. This is the latest in a series of measures taken by Governor Hochul to assist Puerto Rico in its reconstruction and recovery.
"Puerto Rico has faced devastating damage from Hurricane Fiona, and in response New York State has mobilized to support the recovery efforts," Governor Hochul said. "I thank the members of my administration who are traveling today to Puerto Rico to provide direct support on the ground as we continue to survey the damage and assess what additional assistance we can provide to the island."
Members of the New York Delegation included:
- Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez
- Edgar Santana, Deputy Secretary to the Governor
- Sophia Zayas, Director of Latino Affairs
- Marcos Gonzalez Soler, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety
Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, "When disaster strikes, New York has always been among the first to respond and assist the citizens of Puerto Rico in their time of need. I am proud to be part to be part of this delegation and getting a first-hand look at how we can help our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Fiona. And I thank Governor Hochul for recognizing how important Puerto Rico is to so many New Yorkers who have loved ones there."
This past weekend, Governor Hochul announced that a contingent of 50 New York State Troopers were deployed to Puerto Rico to assist with relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona.
Last week, the Governor also announced new actions to engage New York's financial services industry to support residents of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. The Department of Financial Services issued guidance calling on New York state-chartered banks to take all reasonable steps to assist consumers and businesses affected by the hurricane including waiving ATM and late fees, increasing ATM withdrawal limits, and facilitating and expediting the transmission of funds. These actions will help ease financial burdens for the many New Yorkers seeking to support family and friends in Puerto Rico, as well as anyone in Puerto Rico with New York bank accounts.
Governor Hochul also participated in a FEMA briefing with President Biden and Governor Pierluisi and once again pledged New York's full support.
Since Hurricane Maria, New York has helped Puerto Rico secure billions of dollars in federal funding from FEMA to recover and rebuild the island's energy infrastructure, in addition to NYPA performing technical assessments of powerplants and substations on the island. In the wake of Hurricane Fiona, the worst storm to hit the island since Hurricane Maria, Governor Hochul announced New York State actions to assist Puerto Rico in relief efforts. These efforts have further strengthened New York's long-standing commitment to help Puerto Rico in its reconstruction and recovery.