WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved nearly $28 million in disaster recovery funding for the U.S. Virgin Islands to help repair damage caused by Hurricane Maria.
The funding will support public assistance projects across the territory, including debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to public infrastructure damaged during the storm.
Several agencies are set to receive funding.
The Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority on St. Croix will receive more than $14 million for hazard mitigation work and repairs to a warehouse facility.
Another $7 million will go to Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital to help maintain dialysis services by leasing and developing a temporary outpatient facility.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., D-USVI, says the dollars — and FEMA’s assistance to administer the funding — is a big win for islanders.
“Getting that out, finding the capacity to be able to distribute that and get the projects done has been incredibly difficult,” Bryan said. “So we really love the support that FEMA has been giving us in terms of not only giving us the money but giving us the technical support to get some of these projects through.”
Additional funding will also support temporary facilities for the Department of Public Works on St. Croix, service continuity for the Department of Human Services on St. Thomas and repairs to court buildings for the Judiciary of the Virgin Islands.
