ST. THOMAS — Disaster survivors in the U.S. Virgin Islands are encouraged to register for federal disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
- Individuals, including homeowners, renters and business owners, from the islands of St. John and St. Thomas who suffered loss or damages due to Hurricane Irma may register for assistance online here, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Individuals who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
These toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice; operators are standing by to assist survivors in multiple languages, according to FEMA.
The president declared a major disaster September 7 for the islands of St. John and St. Thomas to assist individuals and households as they recover from the effects of Hurricane Irma, beginning September 6 and continuing.
Survivors should also contact their insurance company to file an insurance claim. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance or who may be underinsured may still receive help after their insurance claims have been settled, according to FEMA.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS – Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).
FEMA says its mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Feature Image: Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) transport an evacuee as part of first response efforts to the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The DoD is supporting FEMA, the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Irma to minimize suffering and is one component of the overall whole-of-government response effort. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Levingston Lewis/Released)
Feature Image Credit: Darryl Potter
Tags: FEMA Hurricane Irma assistance
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