Delegate to Congress Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI), ranking member on the Subcommittee on the Interior, Energy and Environment, released the following statement regarding two grants from FEMA for the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands associated with hurricanes Irma and Maria:
“Today the U.S. Department 0f Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a grant to the U.S. Virgin Islands to aid with hurricane recovery efforts. The grant of $238,412,707 is for the V.I. Water and Power Authority (WAPA) and is intended for permanent repairs to electrical system components damaged by the recent hurricanes.
“The rebuilding efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands will require an extraordinary level of coordination and cooperation between the local and federal government. We have in this moment both an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that the greatest good emerges from this calamity to our Virgin Islands. This grant will help build more resistant infrastructures in the Virgin Islands which will be critical to future economic stability. We must rebuild the Virgin Islands the right way – today so that tomorrow hurricanes are less damaging. The United States government and the international community has an obligation to work with the affected local governments to restore infrastructure, provide critical humanitarian assistance, and help recover and build back our islands.”
