Emergency sirens like the one above, are located next to the Legislature Building in Cruz Bay and at the Fire House in Coral Bay.
Between 10 and 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 11, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), and its contractor American Signal Corp., will conduct an operational test of first phase of the Tsunami Siren Warning System.
Between May and June of this year, VITEMA installed 10 sirens at various locations across the Territory – four each on St. Croix and St. Thomas and two on St. John. On St. Croix, sirens have been placed at the D.C. Canegata Ball Park, the Christiansted Parking Lot, on Emancipation Drive and near the Legislative Building in Frederiksted. On St. Thomas, sirens are located at the Cyril E. King Airport, Griffith Park, Yacht Haven Sugar Mill, and at the Red Hook Marina. On St. John, sirens are located at Cruz Bay next to the Legislative building and at Fire House in Coral Bay.
Those within 1,000 feet or more of the sirens will hear warning tones and/or voice messages for hazards that can impact the Virgin Islands. The operational test is expected to last 15 to 20 minutes and VITEMA is making every attempt to inform businesses, neighborhoods and marine communities in the general vicinity of the sirens.
“This is the first of our routine operational test being conducted as part of our maintenance of this modern warning system,” VITEMA Director Elton Lewis said. “We want to ensure that our triggering mechanisms are functioning and the sirens will sound once activated.”
The operational test is not a drill and the public is not required to take any responsive action. If a major incident were to occur during the operational test, VITEMA would immediately cease testing of the system.
However, VITEMA is asking for feedback from those who heard the sirens. Tell us what you heard and where you were when you heard it. Take VITEMA’s online survey at www.VITEMA.gov, post it on our Facebook page, Tweet us at @readyusvi or call our office at 773-2244 on St. Croix, 776-6444 on St. John and 774-2244 on St. Thomas.
Visit www.VITEMA.gov to view the siren locations and for more information about Tsunami Siren Warning System.
