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Commissioner Alicia Barnes of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), Elton Lewis, are announcing that a Unified Command has been established to allow both local and Federal responding agencies to co-locate and coordinate its response effort to an unknown gaseous odor that permeated a large area of St. Croix, from mid-island to Frederiksted, causing residents to feel ill and forcing the immediate closures of schools and government offices.
The Unified Command, stationed at the VI National Guard Armory, became operational at 9 a.m. on Saturday and includes representatives of US Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health, VI Fire Services’ HAZMAT Unit, all working in support of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), the lead agency in the response effort. VITEMA is the coordinating agency for this event.
The VI National Guard’s 23rd Civil Support Team also was activated by Governor John P. de Jongh Jr. on Friday to provide technical support to DPNR.
On Saturday, participating agencies in the Command developed a plan of operation for the next 48 hours, formulating Joint Assessment Teams — comprised of DPNR, EPA, CST and Fire-Hazmat, to conduct air sampling and monitoring — and to take liquid samples at Hovensa. The teams will conduct both day and night operations based on calls to VITEMA’s 911 Emergency Communications Center and on atmospheric conditions.
The Command also completed a Plume Model outlining affected areas based on calls to VITEMA’s 911 Communications Center and reports from the Department of Health and the Juan Luis Hospital of people who reported feeling or sought medical treatment. DPNR’s executive leadership is utilizing the model as a tool to support the Joint Assessment Teams’ monitoring and sampling.
On Monday, the Joint Assessment Teams will also install stationary monitoring equipment at various sites in the model.
The Unified Command is advising residents to call 911 if they detect a strong gaseous odor in the air. The information will be immediately funneled to the Unified Command center for response and data collection.
Also, the Health Department has stood down its Emergency Operations Center as of 5 p.m. on Friday to join the Unified Command. Residents are being asked to call 911 with any questions. The information will also be forwarded to Unified Command center.
The Department of Health is continuing to advise that people with compromised immune systems to remain indoors or to leave the area to avoid re-exposure if they smell a gaseous or foul odor again.
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