USVI Hurricane Recovery and Resiliency Task Force to publish draft report on July 20

Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp spoke at the final meeting of the USVI Hurricane Recovery and Resiliency Task Force on June 26, 2018, as the panel concluded its research on the territory’s long-term recovery and resiliency planning.

At the meeting, Dina Simon, chief executive officer of the task force, said the group was refining its report and planned to publish a first draft online on July 20, 2018, for public comment. Printed copies were scheduled to be distributed on August 27, 2018.

The report was described as including information on the hurricanes and their impact on the Virgin Islands, along with recommendations for rebuilding more resilient and functional communities.

Mapp also discussed power-system reconstruction, including plans for independent power generation on St. John and funding allocated to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority for rebuilding, hardening and expanding its system. According to the Government House statement, the U.S. government had spent more than $600 million restoring the territory’s electrical system and had authorized another $572 million.

The statement said presenters at the June 26 meeting included David Bornn of Kellerhals Ferguson Kroblin and Jonathan Halfon, FEMA regional coordinator for community planning and capacity building.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/usvi-hurricane-recovery-and-resiliency-task-force-concludes-its-research/