Federal disaster declaration issued for V.I. as post-storm restoration continues

As the territory inches toward restoring power in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ernesto, officials overseeing recovery efforts briefed the public on Monday following an announcement that President Biden issued a federal disaster declaration for the territory.

The declaration was also announced in a press release issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Monday, which stated that the action authorizes FEMA “to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of catastrophe.”

Assistance will be provided at 75 percent federal funding, according to that press release. Government House spokesperson Richard Motta Jr. said on Monday that FEMA will work with the U.S. Virgin Islands on damage assessments across the territory.