As part of its EFS-6 disaster readiness efforts, the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services (DHS) Mass Care team completed a water supply delivery run to the Water Island Firehouse on Thursday, June 30, marking the final FEMA designated shelter to receive pre-staging commodities for storm preparation.
DHS Mass Care delivered 10 cases of bottled water to Water Island Search and Rescue officers Kevin Butler and Mark Wisser who arrived by boat to collect the supplies at the Waterfront in Downtown.
Charlotte Amalie. according to DHS Community Affairs Coordinator Yvette Henry, local supermarket chain The Market in both island districts provided the cases of bottled water used to supply Mass Care’s pre-stage pods across the territory.
“They really stepped up as a community partner and assisted us with acquiring the cases of water for shelters on all three islands.” she said.
Henry added that the St. Croix and St. Thomas/St John shelters have already been pre-staged with commodities. “This final delivery to Water Island today helps DHS Mass Care move forward in assisting our local and federal partners prepare a coordinated response in the event of a disaster.”
The Virgin Island Department of Human Services is mandated to carry out Emergency Support Function 6 (ESF 6), under FEMA and VITEMA’s Coordinated Disaster Response. ESF 6 refers to Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Shelters and Human Services. It requires the agency to supervise the coordination and delivery of mass care, emergency assistance, sheltering and human services during a disaster.
For general information, visit the Department of Human Services website at www.dhs.gov.vi or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usvidhs.The Department of Human Services (VIDHS) exists to provide social services to members in its community with diverse needs.
Visit the Department of Human Services website at www.dhs.gov.vi for more information.
