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Feds so study to find out why it took 11 months to turn power back on in USVI and Puerto Rico
FEDS DO STUDY TO FIND OUT WHY IT TOOK 11 MONTHS TO TURN POWER BACK ON IN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO AFTER HURRICANESCHRISTIANSTED — Hurricanes Irma and Maria damaged much of the electricity transmission and distribution systems in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in 2017. This resulted in the longest blackout in U.S. history—about 11 months in Puerto Rico.
Federal agencies usually support local utilities in disaster responses. In Puerto Rico, agencies took unprecedented direct roles in grid restoration efforts.
This was in part because the Puerto Rico electric utility, which was in debt before the storms, did not have the capacity to fully respond. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provided about $3.2 billion for electricity restoration as of July 2018.
WHAT GAO FOUND
Federal agencies supported efforts to restore electricity in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and Puerto Rico through the types of support they traditionally provide following disasters and, in Puerto Rico, in some unprecedented ways.
Read more: http://vifreepress.com/2019/04/feds-do-study-to-find-out-why-it-took-11-months-to-turn-power-back-on-in-u-s-virgin-islands-and-puerto-rico-after-irma-and-maria/