Radios in first responder vehicles are being brought up to new territory-wide standards, part of the ongoing $17 million upgrade of 911 communication capabilities by the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and the V.I. Police Department.
The work is taking place adjacent to the Austin "Babe" Monsanto Marine Terminal in Sub Base, according to VITEMA Director Mark Walters.
"This will allow all first responders to communicate with each other in a secure environment," Walters said. "We are shooting to go live at the end of the month."
Walters said training and exercises with the new communication capabilities will be part of the preparation.
The 911 upgrade began last July, and recently has seen other milestones, including last week’s certification of 24 911 dispatchers.
