Determination That A Public Health
Emergency Exists

As a result of the consequences of Hurricane Maria on the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Thomas E. Price, M.D., Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby determine that a public health emergency exists and has existed since September 16, 2017, in the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and since September 17, 2017, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.