WICO chief to chair USVI Hurricane and Resiliency Advisory Group

This expert advisory committee, established by USVI Gov. Kenneth Mapp, will help guide reconstruction efforts and resiliency in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria.

'We’re bringing together experts from many disciplines to help the US Virgin Islands build back as fast and smart as possible to enhance the long-term resiliency and economic health of our islands, while protecting our communities from future storms,' Mapp said.

Operating under the Office of the Governor, the group includes local officials and community members, as well as business and environmental experts, and thought leaders from around the United States.

It is tasked with assessing the hurricane damage and outlining risks facing the USVI from potential future natural hazards looking ahead 30 years, including how those risks may evolve with climate change. It also will set the course for the territory's long-term security and economic recovery, with a special focus on making critical infrastructure, homes and businesses more resilient to future storms and other natural disasters.

The Advisory Group additionally will focus on the ongoing planning, coordination and implementation of response and recovery efforts across the human services, infrastructure, housing and economic sectors. It will develop a centralized process to attract, coordinate and leverage federal, private sector and philanthropic funding and volunteer efforts.

Furthermore, the group is to develop and implement a coordinated economic recovery plan, with a particular focus on the tourism industry and all related services.

Moreover, it will track and monitor distribution and spending of federal disaster assistance funding and private donations, including the Community Fund for the Virgin Islands, administered by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.

The near- and long-term actions needed to increase the USVI's resilience when faced by natural hazards, including policy recommendations and guidelines and prioritization for infrastructure investments, is a further duty of the group.

Chairman Graham previously served two terms as a senator in the USVI Legislature, overseeing the finance and rules committees, and was the long-time executive director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority.

Others in the 18-member group include, to name a few, Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty, US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome M. Adams; Vivek Daswani, president and owner of the Royal Caribbean retail group; and Anthony Hurley, associate managing director of Witt O’Briens, an emergency and security risk management firm.

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