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Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Press Contact: Ryan Nugent Director of Communications Phone: (340) 725-4924 ryan.nugent@dhs.vi.gov For Immediate Release: May 24, 2023 VIDHS MASS CARE TO CONDUCT COMMODITTIES POD TRAINING ON ST. THOMAS AND ST. CROIX THURSDAY U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS - The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services (VIDHS) is advising the public of an active Points of Distribution (POD) Training Exercise and Drill that will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2023, on St. Thomas and St. Croix at 9:00AM These FEMA-led exercises and drills will take place on St. Croix at the St. Croix Central High School campus, and on St. Thomas at the Crown Bay Marina. Residents and the motoring Public are being asked to proceed with caution around the aforementioned areas as these activities take place. This post- hurricane landfall scenario will be conducted through a collective partnership between VIDHS, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Virgin Islands National Guard (VING). The drill will include support from the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and The Virgin Islands Fire Service and EMS (FEMS) the American Red Cross, Emergency Support Government agencies and volunteers. During the Trainings, Interagency staff and personnel will be briefed on the standard operation procedures for the distribution of Emergency Supplies, to include the acquisition and delivery of life sustaining resources, hygiene items, and clean-up items to meet the urgent needs of disaster survivors. The Virgin Island Department of Human Services is mandated to carry out Emergency Support Function (ESF) #6, under FEMA and VITEMA’s Coordinated Disaster Response. ESF #6 refers to Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Shelters, and Human Services. It requires the agency to supervise the coordination and delivery of mass care, emergency assistance, sheltering, and human services during a disaster. For more information, please visit the Department of Human Services website, www.dhs.gov.vi or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/usvidhs) at US Virgin Islands Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services (VIDHS) exists to provide social services to members in our community with diverse needs. In times of national uncertainty and hardship we act as a safety-net and exist to inspire hope and empower change through non- judgmental, quality delivery of needed services and resources. 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. ## END## P R E S S R E L E A S E