Public Housing
Tutu Housing Complex
Hurricane Irma | St. Thomas, USVI
Two back-to-back category five hurricanes produced wide-spread damage and destruction across the U.S. Virgin Islands, leaving close to 40,000 residents without utility services for several months. The damage sustained at the Tutu Housing Project – a 304-unit facility located on the island of St. Thomas, left the building without windows, water, or power, and displaced more than 150 families. For local government officials, the recovery of the facility that served some of the more vulnerable populations on the island came to represent a key marker for the overall success of recovery efforts. Tight timelines for completing site inspections, demolition, and rebuilding had to be balanced with reconciling opposing management approaches and ensuring compliance with Federal regulations. Early on, our team identified relationship building as a crucial component for advancing the project. I focused on consistency, transparency, and maintaining open lines of communication to meet project deadlines and develop trust among stakeholders. To date, the Tutu Housing Project has been obligated for $69M in recovery funds.