U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen and his senior management team is set to testify before the Senate Finance Committee about their Fiscal Year 2023 executive budget request on Tuesday, June 28.
The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency’s FY 2023 budget proposal is $9,936,053, which includes $6,308,855 from the General Fund and $2,779,094 in federal funding and $848,105 in Emergency Service funding covering the department’s 141 employees.
Among the highlights of VITEMA’s written testimony is:
- Restoration of more than half of the Territory’s 44 tsunami sirens
- Newly revised and updated Territorial Emergency Operations Plan
- Implementation of “Rapid S.O.S.” system to pinpoint location of cell phone callers for 9-1-1 dispatchers
- Successfully operating as part of the Unified Command for the COVID-19 pandemic
- Repair of the St. Thomas Emergency Operations Center
- Successful completion of extensive active-shooter exercises
In addition to maintaining its staffing levels to carry out critical work, VITEMA’s goals for FY 2023 include renewing its collective bargaining contract, maintaining its Emergency Management Accreditation Program status, complete the hiring process for a Functional Disabilities Coordinator in each district and fill two staff positions, for a Payroll Manager and an Administrative Secretary.
VITEMA’s mission is to save lives and to protect property through preparedness, exercises, prevention and mitigation. The Agency is comprised of five main divisions: Administration and Finance, Grants Management, Planning and Preparedness, Operations and Logistics. VITEMA also has oversight of the 9-1-1 emergency system and the V.I. Office of Homeland Security.
The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov