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US declares drought disaster for 26 Puerto Rico municipalities as dry conditions persist

The federal designation unlocks emergency loans for agricultural producers as over 60% of the island faces severe or extreme drought.

Updated Aug 26, 2026 · 16:39 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture declared a drought disaster covering 26 of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities following a formal request by Gov. Jenniffer González.
  • The designation grants affected farmers and agricultural producers access to emergency loans to help offset financial losses and halted production since May.
  • More than 63% of Puerto Rico is suffering from severe or extreme drought, driven by an El Niño cycle and compounded by aging water infrastructure.
  • Rotating water rationing remains in effect for over 180,000 customers across San Juan and six other cities, with no immediate weather relief reported.

Key facts

  • The federal drought disaster declaration applies to 26 municipalities in Puerto Rico, allowing local agricultural producers to access emergency loans.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • More than 33% of the territory is experiencing extreme drought, while an additional 30% is under severe drought conditions.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • July recorded the driest conditions in over 120 years for the capital city of San Juan, as well as its second-hottest month on record.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • Gov. Jenniffer González declared an island-wide state of emergency in late July, deploying the National Guard and implementing 48-hour rotating water rationing for over 180,000 utility customers.[ABC News · Associated Press]
  • Meteorologists attribute the severe dry spell across the region to the El Niño climate pattern, which also prompted federal disaster declarations in the U.S. Virgin Islands.[ABC News · Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • The duration of current drought conditions and the timeframe for potential rainfall relief remain unknown.[ABC News · Associated Press]

Sources