May 4, 2007 — The U.S. Virgin Islands is in position to receive more than $1.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bury electrical wires on St. Thomas, officials announced Friday.
The project was one of 470 proposals for federal money from around the country this year. The territory was the lone finalist for the FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program money, joining 209 projects in 44 states and six Indian tribes.
To get the grant, the territory has to prove it has non-federal matching funds and conduct an environmental review.
Most projects will be eligible for a 75 percent federal share with a 25 percent non-federal match, but small, impoverished communities may be eligible for up to a 90 percent federal cost-share.
“Mitigation saves our nation $4 for every dollar spent. This program encourages local leaders across the nation to look ahead and plan against what could be catastrophic events. This … shows that the territory and the local community are working together with FEMA and other partners to make mitigation happen,” said FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison.
“Mitigation is the cornerstone of emergency preparedness and management," Paulison said. "Funding these projects reduces risks to lives and property. By making our communities safer in the first place, we make great strides toward reducing the need for federal post-disaster recovery funds.”
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
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