CHRISTIANSTED — The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded nearly $1 million to the territory on Wednesday for the Spring Gut watershed project. This watershed, when working properly, drains and directs the hillside water in the Gallows Bay area to the Caribbean Sea. Improper drainage and flooding of the watershed has

SAN JUAN — Ahead of the June 1, start of the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season, Governor Albert Bryan Jr and VITEMA Director nominee Daryl Jaschen, on Tuesday, visited a FEMA distribution center housing equipment and other sustenance commodities essential to the U.S. Virgin Islands’ disaster preparedness and response. Governor Bryan

CHRISTIANSTED — The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) said today that the week of March 10 to 16 is “Tsunami Preparedness Week.” This is VITEMA’s opportunity continue to promote tsunami preparedness in the territory, it said. “Always keep in mind that tsunami preparedness is an ongoing effort,” VITEMA

SAN JUAN – FEMA has awarded nearly $70 million for disaster case management in Puerto Rico. This partnership provides survivors with a single point of contact to facilitate access to a broad range of resources and expedites their recovery after hurricanes Irma and María. In line with Governor Ricardo Rossello’s

CHARLOTTE AMALIE – Debris removal is underway for those enrolled in the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said today. FEMA and the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands have extended the STEP program until March 31, 2019; an extension for debris pickup/removal

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has been eyeing several pots of money — including Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico disaster funds, counter-narcotic accounts and military construction dollars — to fund the borderwall, according to congressional aides and White House officials. If Trump declares an emergency to build the wall with

SAN JUAN – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $28.8 million in additional funds to Puerto Rico to cover costs related to Hurricane María. These awards bring the amount of funds obligated under FEMA’s Public Assistance program to $5.3 billion, the agency said today. The latest grants approved

WASHINGTON — Virgin Islands Governor-elect Albert Bryan, Jr. said he will visit the nation’s capitol this week to meet with Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, along with Congressional leaders and Trump Administration officials. Since announcing the leadership of his transition team during a press conference on Nov. 28,

SAN JUAN — A report from Puerto Rico’s government says Hurricane Maria had a $43 billion impact on the U.S. territory’s economy, $1 billion more than originally estimated. The Puerto Rico Planning Board’s report says its calculations took into account millions of dollars received so far in federal hurricane recovery

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said today that a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Bombing Prevention Awareness Course (BPAC) will be offered two days next week at the VITEMA offices on St. Thomas. On December 5 and 6, the courses will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30