A new facility that unites three vitally important emergency management agencies was officially opened for business Thursday.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new emergency management center in Estate Nisky, Senate President Louis Hill said the area is now better protected in case of disaster.

“Our territory is significantly better prepared to coordinate and supervise the response and recovery of any hazard or disaster due to this state-of-the-art facility,”

The new building brings together offices for 911, the Department of Homeland Security and Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.

VITEMA director Mark Walters said the move means increased communication between the agencies.

“Everything is all under one roof – organizationally and physically.”