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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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We Won't Be Left Alone

Steve Parris, VITEMA deputy director, clarifies remarks he made relative to help from the federal government if the V.I. should get hit with a hurricane this year.
"Don't look to the federal government to send much help should the Virgin Islands get blasted with a hurricane, was the word from V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency officials as people from various St. John agencies met Thursday to fine tune the island's hurricane response plans.
Steve Parris, VITEMA's deputy director on St. Thomas, said plans worked out with the federal agencies for this hurricane season are "out the door" given the magnitude of the unprecedented disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina."
While there is some accuracy in this statement please allow me to further clarify. Because of what has happened with Katrina, FEMA and the entire nation is putting all of its resources to assist in that disaster. However, we will not be left alone. We at VITEMA are in constant contact with FEMA and other federal supporting agencies. FEMA has tasked us and all other states and territories to put together plans for goods and services to come from the within to effect a more timely delivery of those goods and services; i.e. pre-purchase ice and water from local suppliers that would be stored in bunkers or pre-positioned outside of harms way. We all must be more self-reliant to assure our safety and survival.
Steve Parris
St. Thomas

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