COMMITTEE HOSTS ST. JOHN TOWN HALL ON HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS 

ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks, chaired by Senator At-Large Angel L. Bolques, Jr., convened a community town hall at the Cleone H. Creque Legislative Annex on St. John to provide residents with critical information on hurricane preparedness and emergency response. 

The town hall was held in coordination with the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), St. John Rescue, Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS), and the Office of the Administrator for St. John. 

Effective hurricane preparedness requires residents to have access to timely information, understand emergency procedures, and know what resources are available before an emergency occurs. The town hall provided St. John residents with direct access to emergency response agencies to discuss preparedness measures, response capabilities, available resources, and concerns specific to the island community. 

VITEMA Director Daryl D. Jaschen encouraged residents to take proactive steps to prepare their households before a storm threatens the Territory. Residents were advised to review family emergency plans, secure their homes, maintain essential supplies, including water, nonperishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, cash and important documents, and remain informed through official emergency notifications. He further emphasized that St. John residents should prepare for at least 10 days of self-sufficiency, given the possibility that ferry service between Cruz Bay and Red Hook may take additional time to resume following a major storm. 

Senator Bolques queried whether churches could be used as shelters in the aftermath of a storm. Director Jaschen explained that the option would need to be evaluated because designated shelters must meet specific requirements, including adequate restroom facilities and generator capacity. He added that generators owned by the Government of the Virgin Islands would first be distributed to the Virgin Islands Police Department and other critical facilities.  

Senator Bolques thanked all participating agencies for their collaboration and commitment to ensuring that St. John residents are informed, prepared, and ready for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane season. 

Senators present at today’s town hall were Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, and Carla J. Joseph. 

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Press Contact: Africah N.T. Harrigan

Email: aharrigan@legvi.org