Region 2

The recovery from the 2017 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, is progressing and FEMA is still here assisting the Territory with the efforts. During the next several weeks, FEMA will be posting the “We Are FEMA USVI” series on their FEMA U.S. Virgin Islands Facebook page. The posts will highlight programs/groups, staff and recovery projects in the territory.

Several museums in Ponce have already been allocated funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair these structures tasked with preserving historic treasures. The approval represents nearly $2.1 million earmarked for repairs after Hurricane María; and over $379,000 to address damages after the 2020 Earthquakes.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas and U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell delivered remarks during the 42nd National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) Memorial Weekend on May 7 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Secretary and the Fire Administrator paid tribute to the 79 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2022 and 65 firefighters who died in previous years.

Three centuries-old structures located in Old San Juan that are considered architectural jewels and house hundreds of years of history within their walls will be repaired with nearly $10.7 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These are the Catedral de San Juan Bautista, Iglesia Santa Ana and the Capilla Santo Cristo de la Salud, all facilities that are part of the National Register of Historic Places.

FEMA has committed an additional $33.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to reimburse the territory for emergency medical services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $33.5 million Public Assistance grant will reimburse the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health for contracting emergency medical services to provide ambulances, personnel, equipment and supplies to assist with the territory’s COVID-19 response from July 2, 2022, through February 28, 2023.