The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved $182,213,326 in additional grants to pay for the restoration of electric power and removal of debris in the U.S. Virgin Islands after hurricanes Irma and Maria.
FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) grant program obligated $173,844,945 to the VI Water and Power Authority for power restoration throughout the territory. Grants totaling $8,368,381 were obligated to the VI Waste Management Authority for debris removal and wastewater management after the storms.
These grants are in addition to $254 million FEMA previously approved in Public Assistance grants for emergency protective measures in the USVI.
FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program provides federal assistance to government organizations and certain nonprofits following a presidential disaster declaration. Grants include assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged publicly owned facilities, and the facilities of certain nonprofits. The PA program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation during the recovery process.