Cost Estimating
Project Costing Review
Hurricane Maria | Puerto Rico
In 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and severely damaged the electrical grid, leaving most residents without power for months. Managing disaster recovery on this scale requires extensive program & policy knowledge and innovative approaches. My experience writing federal grants in excess of a billion dollars has been instrumental in communicating complex matters to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). Faced with the challenge of accelerated recovery timelines and limited access to damaged sites, our team also developed an efficient method to account for all impacted areas without inspecting every location. I incorporated statistical sampling to extrapolate damage that could not be inspected. This methodology proved essential to project PREPA’s damage and develop the $10.7 billion estimate required to restore the island’s electrical infrastructure.
To be eligible for federal disaster recovery funding, projects must qualify based on specific statutes, regulations, and policies. As a member of FEMA’s Policy Team, identifying compliance issues and solutions requires program knowledge and the ability to communicate complex matters with all stakeholders. My experience of writing federal grants in excess of a billion dollars has been instrumental in developing a deep understanding of the requirements associated with various government programs. Our ability to document FEMA’s funding authorities is the key to maximizing federal aid without jeopardizing funding during post-award audits. Working with disaster survivors to complete their construction projects and aiding in the recovery effort is the most rewarding part of this work.