VI hosts regional disaster training
03 March 2026
The Virgin Islands sharpened its disaster-response skills last week as regional first responders converged on the territory for an intensive field deployment exercise.
From last Monday through last Saturday, a 15-member team of personnel from around the region took part in training led by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, according to government.
They were joined by 16 VI police and fire officers as part of efforts to strengthen the territory’s readiness for major disasters.
The main objective was to prepare participants for deployment as part of the Caribbean Community Disaster Relief Unit, which supports CDEMA participating states that request assistance after a disaster.
Disaster Management Director Jasen Penn said the exercise would bolster regional response capacity by ensuring qualified personnel can be deployed quickly.
“Training like this enhances the resilience of the entire region,” Mr. Penn said, adding, “Our officers and the participants from neighbouring islands gain experience working together and practise responding to a major multi-island impact.”
Mr. Penn noted that the session would also allow regional responders to familiarise themselves with local officers and the territory’s geography in case of a major disaster here.
Previous deployments, he said, supported recent responses to hurricanes Beryl and Melissa as well as the La Soufriere volcano eruption in St. Vincent.
The last time a team was deployed to the VI was in 2017 following Hurricane Irma.
Training
The week began with classroom-style sessions covering emergency-operations-centre procedures, telecommunications and other skills needed to establish operations in recently impacted areas.
On Friday and Saturday, participants put their training to the test during a practical field exercise, according to government.
The drill simulated a Category Four hurricane striking Tortola and Virgin Gorda, forcing responders to establish a base of operations on a sister island before linking with the VI’s National Emergency Operations Centre and the regional operations centre.
