U.S. Virgin Islands “Tsunami Ready”

Jacqueline J. HeyligerDeputy Director

Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency

(VITEMA)

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation ProgramWaikiki Beach Marriott

Honolulu, Hawaii

October 31, 2007

USVI Primary HazardsUSVI Primary Hazards

HurricanesHurricanesEarthquakesEarthquakesTsunamisTsunamis

Tsunamis impacting the USVI

1867 1868

1918 1946

Frederiksted, St. Croix 1867

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas 1867

The tsunami followed a devastating hurricane by two weeks.

The La Plata takes the wave.

RiskRisk

HOVENSA Oil RefineryHOVENSA Oil RefineryPortsPortsHotels Hotels BusinessesBusinessesResidentsResidents

U. S. Virgin IslandsU. S. Virgin Islands

Transportation Between IslandsTransportation Between Islands

AirAirSea PlaneSea PlaneShuttle FlightsShuttle Flights

BoatBoatFerry ServicesFerry Services

Sea PlaneSea Plane

Primary transportation between St. Croix / St.ThomasPrimary transportation between St. Croix / St.Thomas

Sea PlaneSea Plane

Ferry Service Ferry Service

Transportation between St. John and St. ThomasTransportation between St. John and St. Thomas

Ferry Service – Red HookFerry Service – Red Hook

USVI “Tsunami Ready” USVI “Tsunami Ready” Pilot CommunitiesPilot Communities

St. CroixSt. CroixFrederiksted – WaterfrontFrederiksted – Waterfront

St. ThomasSt. ThomasBrewers BayBrewers Bay

St. JohnSt. JohnCoral BayCoral Bay

St. CroixSt. Croix

Two (2) townsTwo (2) towns

ChristianstedChristiansted

FrederikstedFrederiksted

Christiansted, St. CroixChristiansted, St. Croix

Frederiksted, St. CroixFrederiksted, St. Croix

St. Thomas – Major Cruise Port

St. Thomas - WaterfrontSt. Thomas - Waterfront

Magens Bay, St. Thomas

Magens Bay Authority

Where should beach-goers run? How would you inform them?

Brewers BayBrewers BaySt. ThomasSt. Thomas

Cruz Bay – St. JohnCruz Bay – St. John

Coral Bay – St. JohnCoral Bay – St. John

NTHMP - SupportNTHMP - Support

VITEMA Partners

University of the Virgin IslandsRoy Watlington

Puerto Rico Seismic NetworkChrista von Hillebrandt

BUDGETBUDGET 2008 2008

Task ITask I MITIGATION/PREPAREDNESS:MITIGATION/PREPAREDNESS:

$60,000$60,000

Task IITask II INUNDATION MODELING & MAPPING: INUNDATION MODELING & MAPPING: $20,000$20,000

Task IIITask III Tsunami NotificationTsunami Notification $200,000$200,000

Task IVTask IV TSUNAMI READY:TSUNAMI READY: $20,000$20,000

TotalTotal $300,000$300,000

USVI Actions/Proposals towards “Tsunami Readiness”

Educate EMC, etc. on tsunami warning and response

Develop team on each Island to organize development of “tsunami ready” communities while educating public

Identify 24/7 tsunami alert system Utilize expertise available for inundation mapping

and modeling Identify locations and place tsunami warning

systems

Thank YouThank You