ST. CROIX, VI – The Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning, led by Senator Marise C. James met in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room.  Lawmakers received updates concerning an update from VITEMA on the construction of the Hermon Hill Wind Retrofit and Safe Room project. Additionally, senators received a comprehensive update on territorial emergency preparedness and hurricane season readiness.

Daryl D. Jaschen, Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency provided an update on the project. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the Hermon Hill Wind Retrofit and Safe Room project on April 19, 2020, with approximately $22.51 million in HMGP funding. Since this approval, FEMA has approved several amendments to the Scope of Work to redefine the project as engineering and federal reviews progressed. The project is currently in Phase 1, consisting of engineering and design. A rezoning needed for the project to progress was signed into law on May 3, 2025 through Bill No. 35-0021.  In addition, VITWMA also successfully completed the Federal Consistency Determination (FCD) project. Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed in October 2026.

Upon completion of Phase 1, FEMA will review the Phase 1 deliveries, and the project will proceed to phase II, which includes procurement, demolition, construction and project closeout, according to the proposed schedule. The proposed Hermon Hill Facility will consist of a three-story south wing (48 feet fall), a four-story north wing (68 feet fall), and a corridor connecting the two wings. The total structure will total 25,000 square feet.  The facility will support daily emergency management while providing surge capacity during hurricanes and other disasters. It will support an 8 workstation 24-hour 9-1-1 Emergency Communication Center, emergency operations centers for territorial, federal, private sector and nonprofit partners, an emergency public information activity center, and a continuity of operations location for government functions. Supporting infrastructure includes power system, resilient communication capabilities and sufficient parking for routine and emergency operations. The facility would accommodate 135 vehicles, and room for an additional 64.  Once the facility is operational, VITEMA has identified an annual operations and maintenance budget of $280,000.

Policymakers also received a comprehensive update on territorial emergency preparedness and hurricane season readiness.

Director Jaschen’s testimony outlined the territory’s readiness for the 2026 Hurricane Season. This focused heavily on the operational status of the three Emergency Operations Center, each with backup power, communications, and identified alternative sites. The St. Thomas EOC is scheduled to undergo a yearlong repair beginning in August 2026. Several agencies continue to update Continuity of Operations plans, as well as the Senior Registry, which is used for post disaster welfare check. This list now has 964 vulnerable residents in the territory. Jaschen’s testimony also highlights the Virgin Islands National Guard’s readiness to support disaster response missions from search and rescue to debris removal and patient movement. A June 2026 capstone exercise with FEMA demonstrated progress in joint planning and EOC. However, the After-Action review identified gaps, such as communication issues. St. John Operational Issues, shelter staffing vulnerabilities, POD role confusion, and the underuse of WebEOC.

Lieutenant Isaac Porter, Special Assistant to the Chief, St. Croix District and Territorial Liaison officer to VITEMA for emergency services delivered testimony on behalf of Police Commissioner Mario Brooks.   The Virgin Islands Police Department is the lead agency for Emergency Support Function #13, Public Safety and Security. It highlights its participation in the Emergency Management Council, which works in close coordination with VITEMA. Across the district, the Department has reported district specific readiness efforts including evacuation route management, marine transportation planning, shelter security, critical infrastructure protection, and logistics staging. The Department also emphasizes its vital role in disaster recovery, including maintaining public safety, supporting emergency operations and ensuring continuity of law enforcement services throughout the hurricane season.

Rueben Jennings, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Public Works reminded the body that the Department is fully engaged in hurricane season readiness across the territory, focusing on transportation access, drainage maintenance, infrastructure resilience, and coordinated response. Crews inspect and maintain guts, culverts, bridges, and critical roadways. Engineers conduct pre and post storm assessments. The Department also supports community preparedness through sandbag distribution and encourages medically vulnerable individuals to register for VITRAN plus for emergency transportation. During and after storm events, the Department activates its Roadside Clearance and Debris Removal Action Plans, and positions contractors and personnel near critical facilities to ensure rapid roadway access for emergency responders. The department manages Debris removal, generator and roof repair contracts, and participates in tabletop exercises to strengthen response capacity. After storms, engineering teams conduct damage assessments to inform territorial and federal partners and support potential eligibility for federal assistance.

Carla Benjamin, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Health said that the department is entering hurricane season with a strong focus on mass care, food and hydration logistics, and the protection of vulnerable residents. The Department is the lead for Emergency Support Function #6. The Department has inspected and approved shelter sites throughout the territory and implemented a strict 72-hour matrix with FEMA, the American Red Cross and the Department of Education and pre-staged water at all shelters to safeguard elderly and medically fragile residents.  FEMA has already positioned 250,000 meals and almost half a million liters of water throughout the territory. The Department remains ready to activate neighborhood PODs and Disaster SNAP following a federal declaration. Shelter capacity territory side is 2,209 pre-landfall spaces and 1,136 post landfall spaces, with expanded pet sheltering options on St. Thomas and St. Croix. VIDHS is modernizing vulnerable population support through its energy backup battery initiative, improved data integration, and the senior disabled registry, which had 954 residents. ESF 6 has reinstated biweekly training for shelter managers and POD supervisors and continues intensive coordination with VITEMA, FEMA, VIDE, VIPD, the National Guard and the American Red Cross to ensure storm readiness.

Don Gregoire, Interim Chief Operating Officer at the Water and Power Authority, states that the authority has entered the 2026 Hurricane season with significant improvements to its overall readiness compared to previous years.  The Authority has continued to advance multiple FEMA funded mitigation and reconstruction projects.  Wooden poles have been replaced with 10,213 composite poles that are designed to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour.  These poles are stronger, more durable, and better suited for the environmental conditions of the Virgin Islands.  Additionally, about 40% of the electrical distribution system has been converted underground, which reduces exposure to high winds, falling vegetation, and flying debris. Several undergrounding projects have been undertaken in recent time.  On the water side, WAPA has used EPA funding to make targeted investments in water infrastructure improvements focused on reducing water loss, strengthening system reliability, and enhancing reliance during emergency events. The authority has completed two system rehabilitation projects in Campo Rico and Hannah’s Rest. This replaced 41,520 linear feet (7.9 miles) of aging water main with new PVC piping. Also, since last year, WAPA has expended its vegetation management efforts and established a tree trimming crew in each district.

The authority has worked to improve emergency inventories and staging capabilities. WAPA remains an active participant in the Emergency Operations Center as a part of Emergency Support Function 12, which ensures that utility operations remain fully integrated into the territory’s overall emergency response efforts. In addition, the Authority has built a. layered communication, that includes the WAPA Alert system, which reaches more than 14,400 subscribers, a social media audience of more than 33,300 followers, regular website updates and partnerships with trusted local media.

Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Health reminded the body that the Department of Health serves as the lead agency for Emergency Support Function 8 (ESF-8), public health, which is responsible for coordinating the territory’s public health and medical response before, during and after disasters. During hurricane season and other major emergencies, ESF-8 coordinates medical response efforts, supports healthcare facilities, assistant vulnerable populations and manages critical medical resources.  The Department of Health participated in CAPSTONE 2026, conducted from June 1-5, 2026, which simulated a category 3 hurricane on St. John. The exercise validated the department’s emergency coordination.

Encarnacion’s testimony highlighted the CAPSTONE exercise highlighted gaps in medical readiness, especially transportation for non-ambulatory and bariatric patients. The evacuation window shrinks once Port Condition X-ray is reached. The department is expanding marine and air transport options, validating helicopter landing zones and clarifying ESF-8 responsibilities. Additional clinical staffing will be sought through federal partners and EMAC to support shelters and hospital. Medical vulnerabilities, such as bulk oxygen are being addressed through pre-staging and federal coordination.  The Territory is also strengthening fatality management with refrigerated trailers and DMORT support. An internal Health and Medical Lifeline assessment found the system stable but still in need of improvements in medical care, patient movement, sheltering, fatality management, and supply chains. Strong partnerships with FEMA, HHS/ASPR, and local agencies continue to enhance preparedness, while the Epidemiology and Environmental Health divisions remain ready to prevent post‑storm public health threats and support safe recovery.

Darlene Baptiste, Chief Executive Officer of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Schneider Regional Medical Center, delivered testimony outlining its hurricane preparedness strategy.  Both hospitals have operated using temporary facilities built after the 2017 storms.  Baptiste states that their approach emphasizes early planning, proactive patient decompression, infrastructure assessments, resource conservation, and coordination with territorial and federal partners. They follow a phased readiness process, with enhanced monitoring, operational readiness and full emergency operations, ensuring continuity of care, maintaining essential services, and preparing for possible relocation if the storm intensity exceeds the structural limits of JFL North.  Continuity of operations includes safeguarding critical utilities, implementing down time procedures, maintaining communication systems and ensuring accountability for every patient. Clinical priorities include early discharge or off island transfer of high acuity patients, protecting limited inpatient capacity, and ensuring dialysis continuity through emergency diet plans and pre storm treatments.  Interagency coordination with VITEMA, DOH, EMS, VIPD, and federal partners, and air medical providers support patient movement and resource requests.

Senators present at today’s committee hearing included Marise C. James, Milton E. Potter, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Dwayne M. Degraff, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Hubert L. Frederick, Kenneth L. Gittens, Clifford A. Joseph, Sr., Avery L. Lewis, and Kurt A. Vialet.

The Division of Public Affairs is committed to providing the community with accurate information on legislative proceedings and other events at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Visit legvi.org.

####