President Barack Obama has declared the territory a federal disaster area in the wake of damage wrought by Tropical Storm Tomas earlier this month. The declaration will make federal aid available to help V.I. recovery efforts after Tomas delivered severe storms, flooding, and rock- and mudslides from Nov. 8–12.
The announcement came Wednesday in a statement from the Federal Emergency Management Administration. Funding is available to the territory and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the storm. Federal funds are also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard-mitigation measures territory-wide.
Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen applauded the announcement from the White House.
“All Virgin Islanders were discouraged and alarmed by the unprecedented damage, flash flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Tomas, and so this is welcome and encouraging news,” Christensen said.
The disaster aid programs that can be made available include payment of 75 percent of the cost of:
• Repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations engaged in community service activities.
• Removing debris from public areas and for emergency measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health.
• Hazard-mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.
Application procedures will be explained at a series of federal/territory applicant briefings with locations to be announced, according to a statement from FEMA.
Phillip E. Parr was named as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the territory. Parr said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the territory and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.