“With the storm’s path still uncertain, the Caribbean District is working in close coordination with our FEMA partners, as well as local governments and regional emergency management agencies, to ensure a swift and effective response should Erin change course and make landfall in Puerto Rico,” said Col. Charles Decker, Caribbean District commander. “If necessary, our teams are ready to mobilize throughout the region.”
The Caribbean District is currently managing several major infrastructure projects that strengthen the region’s ability to withstand severe weather. Chief among them is the $1.6 billion Rio Puerto Nuevo Flood Risk Management Project, a multi-phase initiative designed to mitigate flooding across 26 square miles of densely populated urban terrain in the cities of San Juan and Guaynabo.
Also underway is the $500 million Río de La Plata Flood Damage Reduction Project, which plays a critical role in protecting Puerto Rico’s potable water supply. This long-term effort involves relocating essential infrastructure away from flood-prone areas along the Río de La Plata, helping ensure uninterrupted service for more than one million residents in northern Puerto Rico.
In Isabela, the Corps continues work on the Guajataca Dam Rehabilitation Project, a $1 billion, multi-phase initiative to permanently repair and modernize one of the island’s most vital water infrastructure assets, severely damaged by Hurricane María in 2017.
In anticipation of potential storm impacts, Caribbean District operations personnel remain in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard to maintain safe navigable channels in harbors.
Although Erin’s trajectory remains uncertain, forecasts point to heavy rainfall across the region. In response, the Caribbean District Emergency Operations Center has been activated, with Corps of Engineers personnel from across the Enterprise mobilizing to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in preparation to support local emergency teams and respond to emerging needs.