Infrastructure
The CDBG-DR Infrastructure Programs are designed to address the unmet disaster recovery needs arising from the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. These hurricanes not only inflicted direct damage to residents’ homes but also disrupted essential services such as power and water due to damaged public infrastructure.
The transportation networks across the islands were severely impacted. Issues such as flooding, stormwater overflow, soil erosion, culvert failures, mudslides, potholes, and complete washouts significantly hindered mobility throughout the Territory.
Enhancing the resilience of the Territory’s infrastructure will help stabilize and maintain critical services for residents during future disasters by strengthening public facilities and networks, including wastewater systems, potable water systems, solid waste management, telecommunications, and public roads, is crucial for the Territory’s ability to respond promptly in the aftermath of extreme weather events. Thereby fostering a safer and more secure environment.
Objectives:
Prioritize infrastructure projects that directly support low-moderate communities.
Identify infrastructure projects that are more resilient, which provide critical services to stabilize and maintain for residents in the event of a future disaster.
All infrastructure programs will likely be LMI benefit and meet HUD national objective. A subcategory of LMI benefit is the low- and moderate-income area benefit (LMA). LMA allows activities that benefit all persons in a particular service area to count towards the LMI objective when at least 51% of residents in the service area are classified as LMI.
Determine the appropriate service area based on factors including: the nature of the activity; the location of the activity; accessibility issues; the availability of comparable activities; and boundaries for facilities and public services.
Ensure projects will be prioritized to provide services to LMI persons and support unmet housing needs.
Ensure URA/104(d) compliance and required actions are followed.
Ensure projects include comprehensive planning to identify resilience opportunities and adoption and enforcement of codes to bring critical infrastructure up to industry standards.
Ensure holistic mitigation designs strive to meet future challenges and hazards.
Encourage implementation of innovative technology and other best practices to create a more reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective electric grid.
Consider the mitigation components protect against future damage.
Proactive measures to promote risk-informed infrastructure development include diversification of power generation, micro-grid development, relocation of critical facilities, and flood-mitigated roads.
HMGP funding for important mapping and hydrologic studies are anticipated to be obligated soon, which will provide up-to-date data and land use recommendations that are critical for roads and power-related projects.
Leveraging other funding sources and increasing coordination among public and private utilities.
Optimize the use of CDBG-DR funds by reducing the unmet need for infrastructure resilience programs.
Replace or restore the function of a facility or system to industry standards without regard to the pre-disaster condition of the facility or system.
Replace or restore components of the facility or system not damaged by the disaster where necessary to fully effectuate the replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged components to restore the function of the facility or system to industry standards.