President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves U.S. Virgin Islands Emergency Declaration

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and ordered Federal assistance to supplement territory and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Ernesto beginning on August 13, 2024, and continuing. 

The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe on the islands of St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, and Water Island.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

Ms. Lai Sun Yee of FEMA has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.