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US Hotel Vouchers Extended for Puerto Rico Hurricane Victims

by VOA News

   A U.S. federal judge has ordered emergency officials to extend hotel
   vouchers for about 1,700 Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland whose homes
   were destroyed by Hurricane Maria last year.

   The vouchers letting them stay in U.S. hotels were to have run out
   early Sunday.

   Evacuees sued to remain on the U.S. mainland.

   With just hours to go before the deadline, Judge Leo Sorokin wrote,
   "The irreparable harm to the plaintiffs is obvious and overwhelming.
   Tomorrow morning, they will be evicted and homeless since by
   definition, each plaintiff's home was rendered uninhabitable by the
   hurricane in Puerto Rico."

   The judge ruled that the hotel vouchers will be good until Wednesday.
   He will hold another hearing Monday to determine if the vouchers should
   be extended even further.

   Sorokin also wrote that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has
   neglected to provide proper aid for the hurricane victims.

   Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico last September, destroying
   hundreds of thousands of homes and buildings, and causing more than
   $100 billion in damage. The U.S. territory is still struggling to
   recover.