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NewsWPLG Local 10August 26, 2026Miami-Dade

U.S. Department of Agriculture declares drought disaster for 26 Puerto Rico municipalities

The U.S. government has declared a drought disaster for 26 municipalities in Puerto Rico, granting farmers and agricultural producers access to emergency federal loans. This declaration follows record-breaking dry conditions and heat that have severely impacted crop production and livestock across the territory.

droughtagriculturedisaster reliefwater infrastructurePuerto Rico
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Why It Matters

Farmers in the affected regions can now apply for emergency federal financial assistance to mitigate losses caused by the ongoing drought, which has persisted since April.

Key Facts

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared a drought disaster for 26 of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities.
  • The declaration allows farmers and agricultural producers in the affected regions to access emergency federal loans.
  • More than 33% of Puerto Rico is currently under extreme drought, with another 30% under severe drought.
  • July was the driest month on record for San Juan in over 120 years.
  • Water rationing is currently in effect for over 180,000 customers in San Juan and six other cities, with 48-hour service interruptions.
  • The governor activated the National Guard to transport, distribute, and purify water.
  • Farmers have reported significant losses since May, including shriveled crops and livestock that cannot be fed or sold.
  • The Lajas irrigation canal, which serves 300 farms, reduced water supply from three times a week to once a week in June.
  • Meteorologists attribute the drought to the El Niño natural warming cycle.
  • Puerto Rico previously implemented water rationing in 2015 and 2020.

Who's Mentioned

organizationRAFI“Nonprofit serving small- to midscale farmers.”other26“Number of municipalities covered by the disaster declaration.”personIrving Rodríguez“Puerto Rico Agriculture Secretary.”organizationWater and Sewer Authority“Puerto Rican utility agency facing infrastructure criticism.”personMiguel Romero“Mayor of San Juan who sued the Water and Sewer Authority.”other180,000“Number of customers currently under water rationing.”organizationU.S. Department of Agriculture“Federal agency that issued the disaster declaration.”personFello Pérez“Technical assistance provider for RAFI.”other78“Total number of municipalities in Puerto Rico.”other300“Number of farms dependent on the Lajas irrigation canal.”personNaia Seda“Local farmer in Lajas affected by the drought.”personJenniffer González“Governor of Puerto Rico who requested the declaration.”other15“Acres of Naia Seda's farm.”