Governmental and certain private nonprofit entities of St. Croix affected by severe storms and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Tomas that are eligible for federal assistance, must submit their Request for Public Assistance (RPA) forms to the Territorial Public Assistance Officer no later than Dec. 23.
Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (infrastructure) grants reimburse the territorial government for the cost of eligible emergency protective measures, including debris removal. It can fund the repair, restoration, reconstruction or replacement of public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and contents, public utilities, and parks and other recreational facilities damaged during a declared disaster. Some non-profit organizations may qualify for aid to restore certain types of facilities that include educational, utility, emergency, medical, custodial care and other facilities that provide essential governmental types of services.
In addition, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) was approved territory-wide and identifies the most useful and cost-effective territorial government hazard mitigation programs or projects, which may produce the greatest impact to prevent or reduce damages in future natural disasters. Those projects may include flood-proofing, rebuilding or strengthening structures, building bigger culverts, redesigning bridges to sustain greater water flows or upgrading utilities, such as relocating power lines underground. The deadline to submit mitigation proposals is Nov. 24, 2011.
FEMA’s Public Assistance (infrastructure) and HMGP grants reimburse 75 percent of the project’s eligible costs.
For additional information, call the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) at 774-2244, or by fax 715-6847.
