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In light of today’s earthquake and tsunami that struck parts of Japan, leaving some of the nation under a tsunami warning, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency wants to reassure the Virgin Islands community that preparedness and response for these types of catastrophes remains one of its top priorities.
Over the last several years, through the reorganization of VITEMA and under the guidance and steady support of Governor John P. de Jongh Jr., the emergency management system has shifted its focus and posture from solely hurricane and storm preparedness to providing effective response to all hazards, particularly catastrophic earthquakes and tsunamis.
Understanding that the Caribbean is one of the most seismically active areas in the world, VITEMA is continuously interfacing with key federal partners — the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — to develop tsunami-ready communities across the Territory and to improve the capabilities of the emergency management system to respond effectively and efficiently. VITEMA also continues to regularly exercise and train emergency managers and coordinators in response and recovery from earthquake and tsunamis using lessons learned and best practices from recent events such as the earthquake and tsunamis that hit Haiti, Chile and the American Samoa.
Between 2009 and 2010, using earthquake-tsunami scenarios, VITEMA developed exercises that tested Territory’s capability to evacuate, house, and communicate in the event of a major disaster. The gaps identified through these exercises are being used to improve our planning effort and to build more resilient communities. Through FEMA’s Caribbean Area Division at Puerto Rico, VITEMA also provided Earthquake Rapid Visual Screening Training for engineers and technical staff, which focused on performing preliminary damage assessment in the event of an earthquake.
In August 2009, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded VITEMA a $42,000 grant to begin work on tsunami preparedness in the territory and enhance emergency response. VITEMA then recruited University of the Virgin Islands professor and oceanographer Roy Watlington, who helped the Agency coordinate the technical aspects of tsunami preparedness including identifying evacuation routes, installing tsunami signs and developing a program for staff training and public education about tsunami risk and response in the selected areas.
Through Watlington’s assistance, VITEMA organized and convened the U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial Tsunami Working Group. Members of this group identified coastal areas throughout the Virgin Islands that are eligible to become Tsunami-Ready. This work is ongoing.
VITEMA’s ultimate goal is to develop a level of territorywide tsunami awareness and preparedness that matches advanced U.S. communities that have achieved “Tsunami Ready” status.
To address the public information gap for no-notice events, VITEMA in collaboration with the Office of the Governor, launched VI Alert, the Territory’s mass alert and notification system, in July 2009. The mass alert and notification system is designed to allow registered user to receive emergency warnings as they are issued, instantaneously, via text message, fax or email. Watches and warnings are currently being provided by: the National Weather Service for severe weather and marine conditions; the US Geological Survey for seismic activity; the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center for tsunami affecting the Caribbean region; and locally by VITEMA and the Office of the Governor for general emergency events.
VITEMA and the Office of the Governor also are currently working with the private sector to re-energize the Territory’s traditional Emergency Alert System, which allows the President of the United States and the VI governor to broadcast major emergency alerts over local radio and television stations. This system, which has been dormant for a number of years, is critical in addressing individuals who may not have access to cell phones or computers to utilize services such as VI Alert.
An Emergency Alert System demonstration is scheduled for March 23, to test the effectiveness of this system.
Our efforts at bolstering the early notification system continued in 2010. In November, VITEMA hired American Signal Corp., to manufacture and install a Tsunami Warning Siren System along densely-populated coastal communities throughout the Virgin Islands, including near hotels. On December 6, American Signal Corp. met with the Territorial Tsunami Working Group to identify sites for the first 10 siren units. The chosen sites include: Cotton Valley, Gallows Bay, downtown Frederiksted and William’s Delight on St. Croix; Chinaman Hill, Fort Christian, Magen’s Bay and Smith Bay on St. Thomas; and Cruz Bay and Coral Bay on St. John.
The target date for the units arriving in the territory is early April,
and completion of the first phase of installations is slated for the end of May.
This year, VITEMA is applying to the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program for an additional approximately $300,000 to purchase additional sirens to augment the initial 10 units that were purchased through a combination of local and federal funding. Eventually, the Tsunami Siren Warning System will blanket the Territory’s coastlines.
VITEMA’s planning effort stretches across the spectrum of preparedness to include the territory’s schools. In December, under guidance from Governor de Jongh, VITEMA created an Ad Hoc Committee to assist all schools – public, private and parochial – with developing disaster response plans. Part of this planning process addresses developing evacuation routes for schools situated in coastal areas. The group meets weekly and is comprised of representatives of the Department of Education, the Department of Planning & Natural Resources, the VI National Guard and VITEMA.
The Ad Hoc Committee has tentatively scheduled a tabletop exercise for March 16, with school officials and administrators to evaluate how schools currently respond to emergencies and to introduce new response concepts developed including developing a Crisis Response Team at each school.
Finally, Witt Associates, Washington DC-based public safety and crisis management consulting firm, has been hired to collaborate with the VITEMA in establishing a Tsunami Response Plan that will be included as an addendum to the Territorial Emergency Operations Plan.
According to VITEMA Director designee Elton Lewis, “Citizens can rest assured that we have tsunami planning at forefront of our emergency response priorities. VITEMA is tapping every resource available to build earthquake and tsunami awareness in the Territory.”
VITEMA along with emergency managers across the Caribbean and the nation is monitoring the effects of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan early this morning.
“The people of Japan remain in our prayers and thoughts along with those in other effected communities in the US and its territories,” Lewis said.
Tsunami warnings and watches have been issued for the U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, as well as portions of coastal areas in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington.
No watch or warning has been issued for the Virgin Islands.
For more information contact Director Lewis at 340-773-2244.
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