"Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Laura beginning on August 21, 2020, and continuing," the Saturday statement says.
According to the release, the disaster relief efforts will cover all municipalities in Puerto Rico and will be coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
As of Saturday evening, thousands of people in Puerto Rico had lost power and water, according to the Weather Channel. Tropical Storm Laura had brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to Puerto Rico, causing flooding and landslides.