FEMA officials briefed Virgin Islands agencies on hurricane readiness at June 20 council meeting

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials from Region II briefed Virgin Islands government agencies on hurricane readiness during the Emergency Management Council meeting on St. Thomas on June 20, 2019.

The meeting was conducted by V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency Director Nominee Daryl Jaschen. Representatives of Executive Branch agencies and autonomous entities, including the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, Port Authority and Waste Management Authority, attended. Officials on St. Croix participated by videoconference.

Seven FEMA officials gave presentations on topics including cybersecurity, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, and recovery and response practices. Region II Acting Caribbean Director Tito Hernandez said FEMA was considering a permanent presence in the territory based on lessons from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

Before the FEMA presentations, Acting Police Commissioner Jason Marsh, Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol, Agriculture Commissioner Positive T.A. Nelson, and Adjutant General Nominee Kodjo Knox-Limbacker gave updates on their departments' hurricane readiness.

FEMA Emergency Services Division Director Mark Walters coordinated the presentation. The government said Walters, a former VITEMA director, was serving in the territory through the 2019 hurricane season as a liaison between federal and local agencies.

FEMA Recovery Coordination Director Dan Lafaro said he was working with local agencies on requests for information intended to make grant funding more readily available after a disaster. He also said FEMA had completed its review of 30,000 individual claims and that $4 million had been distributed to Virgin Islands residents.

Region II Response Director Jason Wind said six shelters in the territory had been certified by the American Red Cross: two on St. Croix, two on St. Thomas, one on St. John and one on Water Island. He said other shelters needed minor repairs and were expected to be available by the end of July 2019.

Wind also said FEMA was continuing to stage supplies in the territory, including 41 generators, 231,440 meals ready to eat and 90,720 liters of water, with another 437,400 liters of water expected by the end of July 2019.

Other FEMA officials outlined communications, cybersecurity and disaster declaration procedures. The next Emergency Management Council meeting was scheduled for July 18, 2019.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/top-region-ii-fema-officials-have-high-praise-for-bryan-roach-administrations-hurricane-prep-efforts/