Valdez Shelford

This document outlines the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Action Plan Draft, a $774 million initiative for the Virgin Islands to enhance disaster resilience and reduce future losses. The plan prioritizes data-informed investments, capacity building, policy adoption, and fund maximization through partnerships, with allocations across infrastructure, housing, economic revitalization, public services, and planning. Key focus areas include mitigating hurricane and riverine flooding impacts and benefiting low to moderate-income populations over a 12-year spending timeline, with the plan submitted to HUD in early 2021.

The public hearing was held to inform the public about a substantial amendment to the CDBG mitigation action plan. The amendment incorporates an additional use for CDBG mitigation funding related to energy resilience. The hearing covered mitigation eligibility requirements, action plan amendments, and covered projects, focusing on increasing resilience to disasters and eliminating long-term risks. A key project discussed was the acquisition of vital LPG storage facilities to mitigate risks to the energy lifeline, improve fuel security, and enhance the reliability and efficiency of power generation.

The public hearing focused on updates to the citizen participation plan and action plan amendment number two. The citizen participation plan update includes details on public outreach for disaster funding, increased use of social media, and a process for emergency situations like public health pandemics. The action plan amendment number two includes an additional $53 million award for unmet needs and infrastructure. Key discussion points included infrastructure projects, housing programs, and public services and facilities.

The meeting discussed the CDBG-MIT action plan, including the allocation of 774 million dollars for disaster mitigation. Key topics included improving infrastructure and public facilities, housing, economic revitalization, and planning. The plan aims to lessen the impact of future disasters by increasing resilience to current and future hazards. The meeting also covered the timeline for spending mitigation funds and the importance of community input in shaping the action plan.

The virtual town hall meeting was held to gather input on mitigation strategies for future hazards and natural disasters in the territory. The information acquired will be used to drive the action plan to be submitted to HUD later this year. Topics discussed included funding for the region, the definition of mitigation, HUD goals for the mitigation program, spending timeline, mitigation activity requirements, and the mitigation needs assessment. Potential project types were also discussed, including public facilities projects, infrastructure improvements, housing buyouts, planning, public services, and economic development projects.