U. S. Virgin Islands “Tsunami Ready” Jacqueline J. Heyliger Deputy Director Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program Waikiki Beach Marriott Honolulu, Hawaii October 31, 2007
USVI Primary Hazards Hurricanes l Earthquakes l Tsunamis l
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.
Risk HOVENSA Oil Refinery l Ports l Hotels l Businesses l Residents l
U. S. Virgin Islands
Transportation Between Islands l Air l Sea Plane l Shuttle Flights l Boat l Ferry Services
Sea Plane Primary transportation between St. Croix / St. Thomas
Sea Plane
Ferry Service Transportation between St. John and St. Thomas
Ferry Service – Red Hook
USVI “Tsunami Ready” Pilot Communities l St. Croix l Frederiksted l St. Thomas l Brewers l Bay St. John l Coral Bay – Waterfront
St. Croix l Two (2) towns l Christiansted l Frederiksted
Christiansted, St. Croix
Frederiksted, St. Croix
St. Thomas – Major Cruise Port
St. Thomas - Waterfront
Magens Bay, St. Thomas Magens Bay Authority Where should beach-goers run? How would you inform them?
Brewers Bay St. Thomas
Cruz Bay – St. John
Coral Bay – St. John
NTHMP - Support
VITEMA Partners l University l Roy l of the Virgin Islands Watlington Puerto Rico Seismic Network l Christa von Hillebrandt
BUDGET 2008 l Task I l l INUNDATION MODELING & MAPPING: $20, 000 Task III l l $60, 000 Task II l l MITIGATION/PREPAREDNESS: Tsunami Notification $200, 000 Task IV l $20, 000 TSUNAMI READY: Total $300, 000
USVI Actions/Proposals towards “Tsunami Readiness” l l l 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 You