President Bill Clinton Friday pledged the federal government to picking up an increased share of disaster assistance for damage caused by Hurricane Georges in 1998.
Clinton’s decision will increase Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance from 75 percent to 90 percent. The higher federal share means that the V.I. government is off the hook for more than $1.5 million in matching funds.
Gov. Charles Turnbull said the increased federal share would be applied to the Public Assistance Program for repairing storm-damaged infrastructure and the Individual and Family Grant Program. Funding will also go to the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
"The decision will help enormously as we continue to recover from yet another devastating storm," Turnbull said. "It reflects the success of my administration’s efforts to improve our relations with Washington, as well as recognition by the federal government of our efforts to get our fiscal house in order."
Turnbull noted that he has also requested an increase in federal cost-sharing following November’s Hurricane Lenny. That request is being reviewed, he said.
In addition to the increased federal cost-sharing percentages, the administration is asking Washington to either restructure or forgive outright the approximately $200 million owed to FEMA following Hurricanes Hugo in 1989 and Marilyn in 1995.
The federal government has already agreed to a one-year forbearance on FEMA loan payments, saving the V.I. government nearly $10 million over the past 12 months.
