Sept. 7, 2004 — As the anniversary of the Sept. 11 bombing of the World Trade Center draws near, Americans and Virgin Islanders alike will be asking themselves whether they can handle emergencies of that magnitude.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has declared September National Preparedness Month to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools, according to a release from the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
Beginning Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies across the United States will promote activities to get residents prepared for disasters.
VITEMA, the local chapter of the American Red Cross and other V.I. organizations will follow suit with activities of their own to help prepare territory residents.
"We want everyone to be involved and participate in as many events as they can," VITEMA State Director Harold Baker said Tuesday.
Baker said agencies such as VITEMA and the Red Cross are ready to handle emergencies from a local perspective, but residents need to be ready as well.
"The main thing is to get people psychologically prepared for any disaster," Baker said.
To do this, VITEMA has scheduled a variety of activities to take place this month.
Here is a listing of the activities to take place on St. John:
– Thursday: Senior citizens disaster preparedness briefing at Julius Sprauve School.
– Friday: VITEMA open house — presentations, videos, display of responder vehicles, RACES and St. John Rescue demonstration.
– Sept. 14: Guy Benjamin School students and staff disaster preparedness briefing, 10 a.m. – noon.
– Sept. 16: Pine Peace School student and staff preparedness briefing, 10 a.m. – noon.
– Sept. 18: American Red Cross disaster preparedness display at Starfish Market from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
– Sept. 21: Westin Resort Hotel staff and guests preparedness briefing, 10 a.m. – noon.
– Sept. 23: Caneel Bay Resort staff and guests preparedness briefing, 10 a.m. – noon.
– Sept. 28: Preparedness briefing for Coral Bay Senior Citizens, 10 a.m. – noon.
– Sept. 30: Preparedness briefing for Gallows Point Resort staff and guests, 10 a.m. – noon.
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