Contact: Aesha Duval at 340-778-5900 or Aesha.duval@mail.house.gov
(Washington, D.C. – November 24, 2010) – Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen applauded today’s notification of a major disaster from the White House for the damage suffered by the rains in the wake of Tropical Storm Tomas.
“All Virgin Islanders were discouraged and alarmed by the unprecedented damage, flash flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Tomas, and so this is welcome and encouraging news,” said Congresswoman Christensen.
The major disaster declaration for the U.S. Virgin Islands, issued by President Obama, triggers the release of Federal funds to help the territory recover from the severe storms, flooding, rockslides, and mudslides associated with Tropical Storm Tomas that occurred November 8-12, 2010.
According to the declaration, federal aid will be available made through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Grant Program for the island of St. Croix and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, for the entire Virgin Islands territory.
Congresswoman Christensen congratulated Gov. John P. deJongh Jr., Lt. Gov. Gregory R. Francis, Public Works Commissioner Daryl Smalls, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) Director Mark Walters and all who participated in the damage assessment and preparation of the request to the President.
“I also want to thank President Obama for the attention he has paid to the U.S. Virgin Islands in this time of recurrent disasters and FEMA Regional Director Lynn Canton for always being willing to listen to my concerns and her responsiveness to the Territory,” said Congresswoman Christensen. “This is something else to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.”
