FEMA restores tally of clean water, power in Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration says it is restoring numbers on a government website that show a running tally of how many people have access to clean drinking water and electricity. The figures had disappeared earlier this week from the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

The numbers republished Friday show that about 56 percent of customers of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority have safe drinking water, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria. They show just over 9 percent of customers have electricity.

Removal of the information had fueled suspicion the Trump administration was trying to improve perceptions about its hurricane response in Puerto Rico.

FEMA acknowledged it had removed the tally Thursday but said the figures were available elsewhere. FEMA says they will remain on its website going forward.