Based on the recommendation of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Agency (VITEMA), Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. has approved the 2024 USVI Territorial Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan, which will serve as the blueprint for reducing the impacts of natural disasters on Virgin Islands residents, property owners, government agencies and commercial enterprises.
“It goes without saying that we here in the U.S. Virgin Islands are vulnerable to intense storms and other natural disasters. And, as many of us already know, devastation is an unwelcome possibility – one that we don’t want to face. But face it we must – head on. This Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan is a huge step in the right direction.”
Researchers within the University of the Virgin Islands Caribbean Exploratory Research Center and at the U.S. Global Change Research Project have noted elevated temperatures, increased rainfall, and more frequent and intense hurricanes are all signs that climate change is real and climate-related extremes are the new normal.
Every five years the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires states and territories to update their Hazard Mitigation Plan. The 2024 USVI Hazard Mitigation and Resilience plan, developed by a planning team from the University of the Virgin Islands, presents a series of strategies for the territory to reduce and quickly rebound from the types of natural hazards it has been enduring for centuries. It also provides a roadmap for the territory to mitigate, adapt and quickly recover from the impacts of new types of hazards associated with climate change.
The Territorial Hazard Mitigation Plan for the U.S. Virgin Islands addresses a range of hazards, including:
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms: Given the region’s vulnerability, the plan outlines strategies for preparedness, response and recovery during severe weather events.
Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding: The plan incorporates measures to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels, such as coastal infrastructure improvements and land-use planning.
Earthquakes and Tsunamis: It outlines seismic risk reduction strategies, including building codes, early warning systems, and community education.
Landslides and Soil Erosion: The plan identifies areas prone to landslides and erosion, emphasizing land management practices and slope stabilization.
Wildfires: Although less common, the plan includes wildfire prevention and response strategies, especially in forested areas.
Infrastructure Resilience: The plan focuses on critical infrastructure (e.g., utilities, transportation, healthcare) to enhance resilience against various hazards.
Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, or IrMaria, as Virgin Islanders call them, were unprecedented in their magnitude and the scale of destruction they caused not only for the USVI but for the entire Caribbean and southeast U.S.
“With this Hazard Mitigation and Resilience plan in place, the territory is able to build a resilient infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of whatever may come our way,” Bryan said.
