ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands -- The landfall of two Category 5 hurricanes within 14 days of one another inflicted damage to thousands of Virgin Islanders’ homes and put extreme stress on the territory’s critical service sectors in September 2017. Corrugated aluminum from roofs and vegetative debris piled up, thousands of homes could not receive electricity and major medical facilities were damaged across the territory.
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Press Release |
The U.S. Virgin Islands is charting a course to strengthen its infrastructure four years after Irma and Maria tore through the territory. Hurricane recovery projects are taking shape to make facilities used every day by Virgin Islanders more resilient through support of $3.27 billion from FEMA.
Press Release |
A focus toward building smarter and stronger has pushed forward recovery projects this past spring to strengthen the resilience of the Territory’s power grid, revitalize hurricane-damaged housing communities and repair roads fit to withstand the perils of storms.
Press Release |
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has appointed Kristen Hodge to serve as the Director for U.S. Virgin Islands Joint Recovery Office. Director Hodge officially began June 20, 2021 and will focus on the Territory’s priorities to repair and rebuild its infrastructure with a focus on equity for a recovery that benefits the whole community.
Press Release |
Coordination to break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage continues between FEMA, the U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery, and the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency. This effort has led to $93.03 million obligated for projects to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Press Release |
PDFs, Graphics & Multimedia
View the Disaster Multimedia Toolkit for social media and video content to help communicate about general disaster recovery.
Disaster Survivor Assistance USVI revisit
This week, a Disaster Survivor Assistance Team revisited a neighborhood in Christiansted with one of our new local hires, Carmen Acevedo Adam. This time, they met with sisters Elsa Boyce and Joyce Boyce and connected them to medical assistance resources. Joyce lost the roof off of her home and is now living next door with her sister, Elsa. Joyce said that moving back into her home would be the best Christmas gift ever. They both have already applied for disaster assistance and continue to be in good spirits as they see recovery efforts in the area. As the team was leaving, utility trucks were pulling up to work on power restoration. #VISTRONG #USVI #MARIA #IRMA
Household Hazardous Debris St. Thomas
Household hazardous items of a St.Thomas couple.
Gifft Hill School Gets Ready For New School Year
Gifft Hill School sustained damage during hurricanes Irma and Maria, however, it hopes to reopen in time for the fall semester with help from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program. As St. John’s only preschool through high school program, Gifft Hill plays a crucial role in its community. Board of Trustees member Terri Bertolino, who is overseeing the rebuilding process, describes how mitigation is used to build a more storm-resistant playground. FEMA’s PA program provides grants to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments -- and certain types of private nonprofit organizations -- so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
DIA member delivering Durable Medical Equipment
DIA members with the help of logistics are delivering a hospital bed to replace the one damaged by the storm; on USVI St. Croix.
Survivor & FEMA ASL interview
A St. Thomas survivor discussing with Ben Clark (FEMA ASL Interrupter) his experience during and after Hurricane Maria
Power And Communications Improve On St. John
VIYA linemen secure lines to newly installed composite poles along Centerline Road. These poles can better withstand higher wind speeds compared to the traditional wooden poles and will be installed along critical feeder paths and key transmission circuits. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
Vegetative Debris Is Stored At Cancryn Field
More than 194,000 cubic yards of vegetative and construction debris from St. Thomas and St. John is temporarily staged at the Cancryn site on St. Thomas. It was collected, sorted and reduced to a relatively uniform size. FEMA Public Information Officer Eric Adams points out the phone number residents can call to find the location where they can pick up mulch for their own use. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
Coral Bay A Year After Irma
The Coral Bay Fire Station is being restored after Hurricane Irma damaged it last September. New doors, windows and cabinets have already been installed. Firefighters have been based at the Calabash Boom housing community while the building undergoes repairs. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
Debris Removal Progresses On St. Thomas
Almost a year after hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the territory, the Nazareth debris collection site, near Red Hook, has compacted, bundled and trucked out close to 80 percent of the sheet metal brought here after the storm. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
