ST. CROIX, Virgin Islands – FEMA, in conjunction with the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, has extended the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power program (STEP). The previous deadline for this program was January 31, 2019. The newly approved extension continues this program through March 31, 2019. Those who are currently enrolled in the program are eligible for this extension.
The STEP program is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, but it is administered by the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority under the Emergency Home Repairs Virgin Islands program (EHRVI).
EHRVI allows people to live in their homes while repairs are being made from damages due to hurricanes Irma and Maria. This is not a permanent work program, but designed to provide emergency assistance for life sustaining, public health and safety needs. Emergency repairs may include walls, roof, electricity and plumbing. Phase 2 of the STEP program allows the facilitation of code compliant roofs for those with storm related damages. All work must be completed by March 31.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after a disaster.
For official information on the recovery effort following the hurricanes, please visit www.usviupdate.com. Follow us on social media at twitter.com/femaregion2 and www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands. To sign up for emergency, weather related, public safety and service disruption alerts on the Virgin Islands, sign up for Alert VI or copy https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736729008#/login into your browser.
To donate or volunteer, contact the voluntary or charitable organization of your choice through the National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disasters (NVOAD) at www.nvoad.org. For those who wish to help, cash donations offer voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover. The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands also has the “Fund for the Virgin Islands” at www.USVIrecovery.org.