News Release

National Park Service Announces $48.5 Million in Assistance for Communities Affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria

Emmaus Moravian Church in Coral Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

NPS Photo

News Release Date: February 6, 2019

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WASHINGTON – Today, the National Park Service announced $48.5 million in supplemental assistance grants to help historic resources recover in areas impacted by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in 2017. Communities in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will receive assistance for historic preservation projects related to hurricane recovery efforts.

“Preserving our historic resources is a critical component in the National Park Service’s mission to protect and share our interwoven histories,” said National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “These grants will provide many state and tribal communities affected by the intense storms of 2017 assistance to restore damaged cultural resources.”

As national emergencies arise, Congress may appropriate funding from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) to provide relief for historic preservation projects impacted by natural disasters. The HPF uses revenue from federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf, providing assistance for a broad range of preservation projects without expending tax dollars.

These grants will support preservation repair, recovery, and resilience of properties listed in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register. Funding will also support necessary compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, surveys of historic resources to determine eligibility and the degree of damage, administration of the grants, and preparedness for future disasters.

The historic preservation projects in the following states and tribal communities will include steps to mitigate future damage and will be done in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Archeology and Historic Preservation.
 

State or Tribe (Hurricane)	Amount
Florida (Irma)	$5,932,724
Georgia (Irma)	$3,414,742
Louisiana (Harvey)	$1,013,757
Puerto Rico (Irma and Maria)	$12,717,381
South Carolina (Irma)	$1,946,485
Texas (Harvey)	$12,318,047
Virgin Islands (Irma and Maria)	$10,056,864
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana (Harvey)	$700,000
Seminole Tribe of Florida (Irma)	$400,000
TOTAL	$48,500,000

For more information about the HPF Disaster program, please visit http://go.nps.gov/disaster.
 

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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 418 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.