In September 2017, the strong winds and heavy rains of hurricanes Irma and Maria shattered windows, damaged roofs and displaced many families from public housing complexes on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Through a collaborative effort, FEMA, the U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery and the Virgin Islands Housing Authority (VIHA) are working to repair and rebuild public housing and community centers to better withstand future storms.
News, Media & Events: Virgin Islands
Events
Sep 13, 2022 9:00 a.m. EST
- Oct 12, 2022 5:00 p.m. EST
Virtual
FEMA is seeking public comments on the draft version of the “Restoration and Recovery Guide for Private-Public Partnerships”.
Sep 20, 2022 8:00 a.m. EST
- Oct 20, 2022 5:00 p.m. EST
Virtual
FEMA seeks public feedback on the National Incident Management System Information and Communications Technology Functional Guidance.
Sep 25, 2022 9:00 a.m. EST
- Sep 28, 2022 5:00 p.m. EST
Onsite
This course is designed to present information on the risks posed by natural hazards, and the basic scientific and engineering concepts for hazard-resistant buildings and facilities. The course reviews information pertaining to impacts of wind, flood, earthquake, and wildland/urban interface fire on the constructed environment and explains key performance and construction issues related to floods, wind, wildfires, and earthquakes.
Preparedness Tips
A few inches of water in a 1,000-square foot home could cost more than $10,000 in repairs and replacement of personal possessions. Homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover most floods. Learn more about flood insurance.
Press Releases and Fact Sheets
Press Release | September 14, 2022FEMA is monitoring a broad area of low pressure located about 800 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Although conditions are only marginally conductive, some additional development of this system is possible and a tropical depression could form during the next couple of days.
Press Release | September 14, 2022It has been nearly five years since hurricanes Irma and Maria impacted the U.S. Virgin Islands and the recovery continues. While many individuals, organizations, and federal agencies, including FEMA, helped to provide relief immediately after the disaster, there is still work to be done. Long-term recovery requires the continued coordination and collaboration among multiple federal partners.
Press Release | September 14, 2022PDFs & Multimedia
Browse the list below for PDFs, graphics, photos and other media tagged to this location. Find graphics optimized for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on our Disaster Multimedia Toolkit page.
Paul M. Pearson Gardens Housing Community on St. Thomas
Roof repairs advance in July 2021 at Paul M. Pearson Gardens Housing Community on St. Thomas. Numerous roofs at Pearson Gardens were damaged from the winds and rains of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. FEMA committed $3.8 million toward hurricane repairs at Pearson Gardens. FEMA/Eric Adams
- Sep 14, 2022
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FEMA Interagency Recovery Coordination, Finance and the Virgin Islands Caribbean Area Office
FEMA Interagency Recovery Coordination, Finance and the Virgin Islands Caribbean Area Office gather with partners from the U.S. Economic Development Administration during a workshop for small and minority businesses last week at the Albert A. Sheen campus of the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix. FEMA/Marisa Allen
- Sep 14, 2022
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St. Thomas Lighthouse Mission Building
Southgate Baptist Church completed repairs to its Lighthouse Mission and continues to serve meals and support the community in Christiansted. FEMA will reimburse Southgate about $242,500 for hurricane repairs to its church and mission. Both sites were damaged by Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
FEMA/Yolanda Brannigan-Hodge
- Sep 12, 2022
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St. Thomas Lighthouse Mission Building
Southgate Baptist Church completed hurricane repairs to its church in Estate Southgate and soup kitchen and community center, Lighthouse Mission, in Christiansted. FEMA will reimburse Southgate Baptist Church about $242,500 for repairs to its facilities, which were damaged by Hurricane Maria in September 2017. FEMA/Angelique Smythe
- Sep 12, 2022
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FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team talking to a survivor in St. Thomas
St. Thomas, USVI, Sep.15, 2017-- FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team member Andrea Floyd helps a 79-year-old resident register for disaster assistance at the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm, devastated the island. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
- Sep 12, 2022
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St. John Residents at a distribution center
St. John, USVI, Sep. 16, 2017-- Residents at a distribution center set up by the Virgin Islands National Guard learn how to register for disaster assistance ten days after Hurricane Irma devastated the island. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
- Sep 12, 2022
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FEMA Leaders and VITEMA
St. Thomas, USVI, Sep. 13, 2017—FEMA leadership, along with members of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and territorial governmental partners meet to discuss Hurricane Irma response operations and assess immediate needs. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
- Sep 12, 2022
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Downed utility poles on Smith Bay Road in Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas, USVI, Sep.15, 2017--Downed utility poles on Smith Bay Road in Charlotte Amalie are evidence of the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
- Sep 12, 2022
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St. Thomas USVI The Global Life Church
St. Thomas, USVI, Sep.15, 2017--The Global Life Church sustained severe damage from Hurricane Irma. FEMA/K.C. Wilsey
- Sep 12, 2022
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Government House on St. Thomas
FEMA Disability Integration provided support for accessible elements to improve physical access to Government House on St. Thomas. This facility will include two platform lifts and an accessible elevator.
FEMA/Eric Adams
- Sep 8, 2022
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