October 2, 2018

Two Disaster Assistance Awards Funded by ACL Puerto Rico: ACL has awarded $100,000 to Puerto Rico Ombudsman Office for the Elderly to assist with continued recovery efforts from Category 5 Hurricane Maria. The grant is provided under the Older Americans Act. The Act authorizes limited funding to state units on aging and approved tribal organizations. The funding helps offset the costs of meeting critical needs of older adults in recovery efforts when a major disaster is declared by the President of the United States. To receive the funding, eligible organizations must submit an application to the Administration for Community Living through grants.gov.  Hurricane Maria was the second strongest hurricane in history to make landfall in Puerto Rico with 155 mph winds and 40 inches of rain. The Puerto Rico Ombudsman Office for the Elderly will use the funding for their senior centers impacted by the hurricane. Fifty-nine of 112 senior centers reported damages. The funding will go towards replacing supplies and kitchen equipment, as well as back-up mechanisms such as generators and cisterns that were damaged by Hurricane Maria. Iowa: ACL has awarded $100,000 to Iowa Department of Aging to assist with the recovery efforts from two major disasters declared by the President of the United States. The grant is provided under the Older Americans Act. The Act authorizes limited funding to state units on aging and approved tribal organizations. The funding helps offset the costs of meeting critical needs of older adults in recovery efforts when a major disaster is declared by the President of the United States. To receive the funding, eligible organizations must submit an application to the Administration for Community Living through grants.gov. The disasters included tornadoes, severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding that affected 34 of the 99 counties in the state. The Iowa Department of Aging will use the funding to assist six Area Agencies on Aging with recovery efforts. The funding will go towards replacing the supply of frozen and shelf-stable meals used during times of emergencies; enhanced outreach, and information and assistance to older Iowans; and supplies. Back to top