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VITEMA's Report to the NTHMP. Mark Walters, State Director and Al Javois, Chair, VI Territorial Tsunami Preparedness Working Group NTHMP Annual Workshop Pasadena, CA January ___, 2010. Accomplishments.
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VITEMA's Report to the NTHMP Mark Walters, State Director and Al Javois, Chair, VI Territorial Tsunami Preparedness Working Group NTHMP Annual Workshop Pasadena, CA January ___, 2010
Accomplishments □ The accomplishment that has allowed the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) to successfully petition the NTHMP: • The signing of Legislative Act 7074, by Governor John deJongh into law on July 20, 2009 • VITEMA is now provided with a more efficient organizational structure for emergency response • Governor deJongh nominated Mark A. Walters as the VITEMA State Director and the VI Legislature approved his nomination • The new State Director returned tsunami readiness to top VITEMA priority
Issues • Previous efforts towards tsunami readiness had not developed at the same pace on the different islands – St Croix’s progress was not matched by other islands. • Previous funding support had not be activated.
Solutions □A tsunami ad hoc committee had been formed on the island of St. Croix as a pilot project with the following sub-committees: • Communications • Warning Committee • Education and Outreach Committee • Field reconnaissance at potential tsunami-ready sites □When the TTPWG was formed, the ad hoc committee’s achievements were assimilated in to the TTPWG
Territorial Tsunami Preparedness Working Group (TTPWG) • The TTPWG assimilated the activities and members from the pre-existing ad hoc committee • The formation of the TTPWG included non-VI government membership that had not been engaged before: • HOVENSA Oil Refinery • Virgin Islands National Park (VINP) • Magens Bay Authority
Selection of Sites for Tsunami Readiness Pilot Projects • Site Selection Decision Matrix deployed • Criteria included: • population density • location and elevation of site • proximity to safe areas • feasibility of achieving tsunami readiness • Five sites chosen: Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Frenchtown, Gallows Bay, Magens Bay