Bryan, Plaskett and FEMA met on Oct. 5 to review Virgin Islands storm-recovery projects

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien and other administration officials met with FEMA Region 2 Acting Administrator Chad Gorman on Oct. 5 to review the status of Virgin Islands recovery projects tied to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The daylong meeting focused on how FEMA was applying the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to federal assistance for the territory’s recovery from the 2017 storms.

According to Government House, discussions covered cost estimates to repair or replace storm-damaged schools, health-care facilities, roads and sewer infrastructure. Officials also discussed construction-cost escalation factors in the Virgin Islands, the formula used to determine whether replacement is more appropriate than repair, and how rebuilding to industry standards affects project scope.

The meeting was hosted from Government House on St. Croix, with congressional staff participating virtually from Washington. Government House said the session also addressed guidance on implementation of the Bipartisan Budget Act and supplemental provisions for Virgin Islands projects, road-eligibility determinations, timelines and extensions for fixed-cost offers, and other issues affecting recovery progress.

In the statement, Plaskett said FEMA committed during the meeting to make repair-and-replacement determinations expeditiously and in accordance with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

Government House also said Bryan thanked FEMA Assistant Administrator Keith Turi and Kristen Hodge of FEMA’s Virgin Islands Joint Recovery Office for helping facilitate the discussions.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-congresswoman-plaskett-meet-with-fema-to-discuss-bipartisan-budget-act-progress-of-recovery-projects/