A territory-wide tsunami exercise, Caribe Wave, will take place Thursday, beginning at 11 a.m. This exercise will also take place in 48 countries and territories in the region, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency announced.
All members of the community are invited and encouraged to register and participate in the Caribe Wave exercise, either individually, through their workplace, or both. Registration is free and open to everyone, according to the press release.
Click here to register.
Members of the public are advised to expect to hear the regular Third Thursday Tsunami Testing beginning at 11 a.m. on St. Croix and 11:15 a.m. on St. Thomas, the press release stated.
The sirens may also be accompanied by other alert messaging or tones via ALERT-VI, EAS (radio and TV), WEA (cell phone service), and NOAA Radio. VITEMA is asking the public not to be alarmed or distressed by the messages — all exercise-related messages will be labeled as TEST or EXERCISE, the release stated.
Although this will be a test of the emergency response system, VITEMA is encouraging all residents to familiarize themselves with the tsunami maps found on its website and the evacuation routes. VITEMA also encourages every household to have and practice their own emergency evacuation plan, according to the release.
Caribe Wave 2024 activities are expected to last until approximately 3 p.m., it said.
