U.S. Virgin Islands Recovery: Status of FEMA Public Assistance Funding and Implementation.

GAO was asked to review the federal government’s response and recovery efforts related to the 2017 hurricanes. This report describes (1) the status of FEMA’s Public Assistance program funding provided to the USVI in response to the 2017 hurricanes as of October 1, 2018, and (2) the USVI’s transition to implementing the Public Assistance alternative procedures in the territory. GAO reviewed program documents and data on obligations and expenditures as of October 1, 2018, and interviewed officials from FEMA and the USVI regarding the Public Assistance program specifically and disaster recovery efforts more generally. GAO also conducted site visits to the USVI islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

GAO is not making any recommendations in this report, but will continue to monitor the progress of the USVI’s recovery as part of its ongoing work.