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1 FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTED BY DARYL D. JASCHEN DIRECTOR VIRGIN ISLANDS TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Submitted to SENATOR NOVELLE E. FRANCIS, JR. CHAIRMAN Senate Committee on Finance Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room, St. Croix June 23, 2026 2 | P a g e OPENING COMMENTS 2 3 Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Finance and all other senators 4 present, legislative staff and those in the viewing and listening audience, good afternoon. 5 Presentation Quick-Look Proposed Budget 2027 $11,087,674 Appropriated Funds $5,911,126 General Fund $5,911,126 Non-Approp. Funds $5,176,548 Federal Funds $4,439,786 Emerg. Servc. Fund $736,762 Employees: 73.658 General Fund: 58.377 Classified: 42.709 Exempt: 15.668 Filled: 28.099 Filled: 13.890 Vacant: 14.610 Vacant: 1.778 Federal Funds: 15.281 Classified: 6.281 Exempt: 9.000 Filled: 3.891 Filled: 7.222 Vacant: 2.390 Vacant: 1.778 3 | P a g e 6 I am Daryl D. Jaschen, Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency 7 (VITEMA). Present with me today are Mr. Ovid J. Williams, Assistant Director; Ms. Joselita M. 8 Daniel, Deputy Director of Administration and Finance; Ms. Nadia Fearon, Deputy Director of 9 Human Resources and Labor Relations; Mr. Bruce Kelly, Deputy Director of Operations; Mr. 10 Asim Frett, Deputy Director of Logistics; Ms. Regina Browne, Deputy Director of Planning and 11 Preparedness; and Ms. J’Lisa Martinez, Public Information Officer. Please note that Assistant 12 Director Williams is also performing the duties of Grants Manager due to loss of staff at the end 13 of 2025. Thank you for this opportunity to present VITEMA’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. 14 All numerical data aligns with the GVI Office of Management and Budget. 15 VITEMA’s mission is to save lives and to protect property through preparedness, exercises, 16 prevention, and mitigation. The Agency is comprised of six main divisions: Administration and 17 Finance, Human Resources and Labor Relations, Public Information, Grants Management, 18 Planning and Preparedness, Operations, and Logistics. Two additional divisions, Hazard 19 Mitigation and Public Assistance, which are officially part of VITEMA but have duties carried out 20 with staff assigned to the Office of Disaster Recover since 2019, under Executive Order, and are 21 100% federally funded and not part of this budget testimony. 22 4 | P a g e In addition to these divisions, VITEMA has oversight of the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications 23 Center (ECC) and the VI Office of Homeland Security Fusion Center. The ECC is 100% GVI 24 funded while the Fusion Center is 100% federally funded. 25 VITEMA’s daily operations include operating two (2) 9-1-1 Emergency Communication Centers 26 (ECC), one (1) in each district, three (3) Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs), one on St. Croix 27 in downtown Christiansted, one on St. Thomas just East of the Cyril E. King airport runway, and 28 one on St. John just across from the Myra Keating Smith Community Health Center, and one (1) 29 homeland security Fusion Center located on St. Thomas. 30 Of significant accomplishment is the US Virgin Islands receiving full accreditation from the 31 Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) in October 2024. This marks the first 32 time that any US territory has achieved this milestone. EMAP is an independent, non-profit 33 organization that accredits agencies who comply with their Emergency Management Standards 34 which provide for management and coordination of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, 35 response, and recovery activities for all hazards. The accreditation process is a rigorous program 36 that includes a set of 66 standards by which VITEMA was evaluated. Once accredited, 37 requirements continue and VITEMA must demonstrate compliance with the standards, through 38 annual submissions to EMAP. 39 In Fiscal Year 2027, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) is 40 expected to receive $5,911,126.00 from the General Fund to carry out its operations. 41 42 43 44 FY 2027 PROPOSED BUDGET PERSONNEL SERVICES $3,282,464 FRINGE $1,647,143 SUPPLIES $83,056 OTHER SERVICES $605,206 ULILITIES $293,257 TOTAL 5,911,126 5 | P a g e Personnel Services will cover 58.377 positions at a cost of $3,282,464. This amount represents 45 55.53 percent of the budgeted amount. As of February 2026, staffing supported by GVI funding 46 consisted of 41.979 filled positions and 16.388 vacant positions, primarily with the 9-1-1 47 Emergency Communications Center. Fringe Benefits total $1,647,143, which is 27.87 percent of 48 the total. To cover the several types of supplies needed for the agency, $83,056 is budgeted, which 49 is 1.41 percent of the overall budget. Other Services and Charges is budgeted at $605,206.00, 10.24 50 percent of the budget, which includes $250,000.00 in Miscellaneous items for Disaster Recovery 51 Contingency of $175,000 and Generator Maintenance Agreement of $75,000 for Repairs & 52 Maintenance. In FY2027, rent for the VITEMA office in downtown Christiansted remains the 53 same at $ 14,243 per month, with the contract expiring on September 30, 2027, with a one-year 54 renewal option at a monthly rate of $14,670. Our other budgeted rent is for the St. Croix 9-1-1 55 ECC space and remains the same for FY2027 at $1,925, with the contract expiring on November 56 30, 2027. Utility Services (Electricity and Water) are budgeted at $293,257.00 and is paid through 57 the Department of Finance single payer. This amount represents 4.96 percent of the total. 58 Funding for Volunteer Rescue organizations on St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island 59 is budgeted with the OMB and is release based on successful submission to VITEMA of annual 60 requirement reflecting the organizations good standing. Amounts budgeted in FY2027 total 61 $430,000: $175,000 for St. Thomas Rescue, $175,000 for St. Croix Rescue, $65,000 for St. John 62 Rescue, $15,000 for Water Island Rescue. Over the past four (4) years, St. Croix Rescue has not 63 received any funding. 64 FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION DIVISION 65 Administration and Finance division is responsible for managing the financial resources of the 66 agency. As such, the division supports all other divisions through the General Fund appropriation. 67 Administration and Finance inputs requisition and payments into the Government’s financial 68 system (ERP) on behalf of the divisions. As of June 1, 2026, VITEMA utilizes GVI Buy, the 69 official system of record for all GVI acquisitions, contract management, and vendor relations. As 70 part of the process, requisitions and payments are approved along with adjustments vouchers. 71 VITEMA’s Administration and Finance division normally supports federal cash drawdown 72 process for Hurricanes Irma and Maria Recovery projects through the Federal Payment 73 Management System (PMS) portal for both of VITEMA’s Public Assistance and Hazard 74 6 | P a g e Mitigation divisions, which are managed by the Office of Disaster Recovery. Deputy Director 75 Daniel is in the process of gaining authorization to the PMS portal. 76 Emergency Services Surcharge / Fund 77 The Territory’s Emergency Services Surcharge / Fund is supported by a $2 (two dollar) surcharge 78 on communication lines, which is authorized Federally by the New & Emerging Technologies 911 79 Improvement Act of 2008 and Territorially by Act No. 7981/Bill No. 31-0508, signed January 5, 80 2017, amending VI Code, Title 33, Chapter 3, Section 58, subsection (f) by which 40 percent of 81 the monies are disbursed (0.80 cents of the $2.00) to VITEMA, 30 percent (0.60 cents of the $2.00) 82 to the Department of Health - Emergency Medical Services Unit for supplies, training, and 83 personnel, and 30% (0.60 cents of the $2.00) to the Virgin Islands Fire Services. For VITEMA, 84 the projection funds for FY2027 is $736,762. 85 By Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation, VITEMA can only use those funds 86 for maintaining and improving the 9-1-1 system, to include cyber security measures, and must 87 account for 100% use of the funds annually. The annual report, known at the Annual 911 Fee 88 Report, is a collection of information related to the collection and use of 911 and E911 fees by 89 states and other jurisdictions. These reports from the 50 states, District of Columbia and US 90 Territories are aggregated by the FCC and presented to Congress. The report is also made available 91 to the public at the FCC’s web page www.fcc.gov/general/911-fee-reports. The most recent report 92 is titled 17th Annual 911 Fee Report State Filings and was presented to Congress by FCC Chairman 93 Carr on February 13, 2026. 94 VITEMA’s status overall on accounts payable, based on Act No. 9035, and receipt of monthly 95 agency allotment of covering all budget categories excluding utilities and miscellaneous items, is 96 that we continue to process our payments timely and submit to Finance for final vendor payment. 97 FEDERAL GRANTS DIVISION 98 Category FY2027 FY 2026 Variance Personnel Services $872,712 $930,344 ($59,485) Fringe Benefits $425,724 $452,887 ($15,606) Supplies $90,525 $92,307 $21,014 7 | P a g e Other Services $2,968,469 $2,772,596 ($746,601) Capital Outlay $0.00 $0.00 $63,500 Indirect Cost $82,356 $74,382 $7,974 Total $4,439,786 $4,322,516 ($732,204) 99 100 VITEMA Managed Federal Grants (June 2026) 101 The federal grants supports all the divisions within VITEMA as well as other territorial 102 government agencies. For FY2027, VITEMA will manage federal grants totaling $4,439,786 103 which reflects a 7.71% increase from FY2026 proposed budget submittal. 104 Personnel Services will cover 15.281 positions at a cost of $872,712. This amount represents 19.56 105 percent of the budgeted amount. As of February 2026, staffing supported by Federal funding 106 consisted of 11.113 filled positions and 4.168 vacant positions. Fringe Benefits total $425,724, 107 which is 9.588 percent of the total. To cover the several types of supplies needed for the agency, 108 $90,525 is budgeted, which is 2.04 percent of the overall budget. Other Services and Charges is 109 budgeted at $2,968,469, which represents 66.86 percent of the budget. Finally, Indirect Cost is 110 budgeted at $82,356, which represents 1.85 percent of the total federal grants budget. 111 Challenges 112 8 | P a g e VITEMA's grant management operations have faced significant disruptions stemming from two 113 primary challenges: Department of Homeland Security budget funding gaps for the Federal 114 Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency 115 (CISA) and corresponding personnel attrition. FEMA has reduced its force by over 2,500 116 employees between January 2025 and May 2026, but has been recently approved by DHS 117 Administror to hire an immediate 300 positions, with a goal of 700 over the next few months. 176 118 CISA employees were layed off during the shutdown and almost 1,000 employees have been lost 119 due to various reductions in force. These two agencies experienced a 76 day shutdown, February 120 14 through April 30, which directly impacted VITEMA's operational capacity. These shutdowns 121 created cascading effects on VITEMA's processes, including limited to complete federal draws 122 and transitions in federal project officer assignments. Collectively, these disruptions slowed the 123 agency's ability to execute and advance federally funded programs in a timely manner. Due to law 124 suits by states against the Federal government, both the 2025 Homeland Security Grant Program 125 (HSGP) and the 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) were in a “Hold” 126 status until recently. For VITEMA, we now have access to the 2025 HSGP funding, but access to 127 2025 EMPG funding is contingent upon receipt of the OMB’s contracted agent 2024 Single Audit 128 report. 129 Compounding these federal-level challenges, VITEMA simultaneously experienced significant 130 personnel attrition within its grants management and administrative leadership. In November 2025, 131 the Deputy Director of Grants Management retired, followed in December 2025 by the resignation 132 of the Federal Grants Program Coordinator and the retirement of the Deputy Director of 133 Administration and Finance. The loss of three key leadership positions within a short timeframe 134 placed considerable strain on institutional knowledge, operational continuity, and finacial 135 leadersip, further impeding the agency's capacity to navigate the already challenging federal 136 funding environment. 137 A Way Forward 138 During this Period, VITEMA Assistant Director Ovid Williams has simultaneously assumed these major 139 responsibitieis. He has reestablished communication with all federal partners, prioritize catching 140 up on federal draws while maintaining conversation with local patners. VITEMA has successfully 141 hired a Deputy Director of Administration and Finance, Ms. Joselita M. Daniel, who provides 142 9 | P a g e Assistant Director Williams with the support needed to stregthen the financial leadership of 143 VITEMA. We continue to interview candidates for three (3) open positions: the Deputy Director 144 of Grants Management (Salary $90,000) and two Federal Grant Program Monitors (Salary 145 $46,191). 146 HUMAN RESOURCES AND LABOR RELATIONS DIVISION 147 For Fiscal Year 2026, our Deputy Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations focused on 148 reestablishing key human resources functions that had been delayed or inactive, including the 149 review and resubmission of expired Personnel Requisition Forms (PRFs), the recruitment and 150 selection process for critical vacancies, and the onboarding of new employees across multiple 151 divisions. Emphasis was placed on addressing staffing shortages within the Emergency 152 Communications Center (ECC-911), one of the agency's most critical operational areas. 153 154 Throughout Fiscal Year 2026, Human Resources and Labor Relations provided comprehensive 155 support in employee relations, workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, grievance 156 administration, policy compliance, performance management, and workforce planning. The 157 Division also played a central role in implementing the newly ratified United Steelworkers (USW) 158 collective bargaining agreement, processing related personnel actions, and supporting agency 159 leadership through budget planning and organizational development efforts. 160 161 Additional accomplishments included supporting the Department of Finance in implementing the 162 Government of the Virgin Islands Time and Attendance System and collaborating with the 163 Division of Personnel to review, update, and implement a revised testing process for the 164 Emergency Communications Center Operator (ECCO) position. Since January 2026, the agency 165 has conducted two recruitment campaigns for this critical position, using the new testing standards, 166 thereby strengthening the selection process and helping identify qualified candidates for one of 167 VITEMA's most essential operational functions. 168 169 Plans for the balance of the current fiscal year into the new year include, expanding employee 170 communications and engagement initiatives, strengthening leadership and supervisory 171 10 | P a g e development programs, and advancing employee retention strategies focused on recognition, 172 professional development, and workplace culture. We feel these efforts will help the agency to 173 better recruit, retain, and support the workforce necessary to fulfill VITEMA's mission of 174 protecting the residents and visitors of the U.S. Virgin Islands. 175 • New Hires (6 ) 176 1 Deputy Director of Admin & Finance 177 5 ECCO (4 STT & 1STX) 178 (4 Additional ECCOs Pending by August 2026) 179 • Departures 180 1 Transferred back to previous position 181 4 Resignations 182 2 Retirements 183 184 OPERATIONS DIVISION 185 Accomplishments: 186 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Centers 187 • Text to 9-1-1: In April 2025 VITEMA’s 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Centers unveiled 188 the Text to 9-1-1, one of its Next Generation 9-1-1 features. This enables individuals to 189 communicate with 9-1-1 centers in the USVI via text. This capability is extremely critical in 190 times when an individual cannot place a voice call to the 9-1-1 center because of safety 191 concerns, connectivity issues, or a member of the deaf and hard of hearing or speech impaired 192 community. VITEMA has continued to educate residents on when and how to use Text to 9- 193 1-1. In March 2026, VITEMA successfully conducted public training sessions specifically for 194 the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The costs to 195 implement text to 9-1-1 were borne by the telecommunications providers (Liberty, One 196 Communications, T-Mobile) and by VITEMA through its Emergency Service Fee funds. 197 11 | P a g e • Language Line Continued Use: VITEMA successfully implemented and continues to utilize 198 the Language Line translator system within the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Centers. 199 This system provides operators access, in an average of six (6) seconds, to more than 16,000 200 trained interpreters in over 240 languages. The primary languages utilized are Spanish, Haitian 201 Creole/Patois, and French. Current costs are approximately $0.60 per minute for Spanish and 202 $0.66 per minute for French Creole. From May 1, 2025, to May 1, 2026, Language Line 203 supported 395 calls totaling 2,469 minutes, at a total cost of $1,616. 204 • New furniture in the St. Thomas 9-1-1 ECC: Eight (8) operator workstations and chairs were 205 replaced within the St. Thomas 9-1-1 center after 17 years of service, in February 2026 at a 206 cost of $209,618 funded with $37,942 in GVI funding and $172,576 in EMPG funding, which 207 comes to $26,202 per dispatcher workstation. The St. Croix 9-1-1 ECC eight (8) operator 208 stations and chairs are scheduled to be replaced upon completion of the new VITEMA building 209 on St. Croix. This new building will co-locate the now separate St. Croix 9-1-1 ECC. 210 • VITEMA’s 9-1-1 Dispatchers and Operators continue to demonstrate the highest level of 211 professionalism, dedication, and commitment to duty. This was reflected in VITEMA’s 2026 212 Employee of the Year selections, with both honorees selected from the 9-1-1 Emergency 213 Communications Centers in their respective districts: Ms. Dari-Lee Jacobs for St. Croix and 214 Ms. Noreen Taylor for St. Thomas. 215 Emergency Operations Center Support 216 • VITEMA’s Emergency Operations Centers serve as central coordination locations for 217 emergency management activities, response operations, resource requests, trainings, exercises, 218 and meetings. VITEMA’s EOCs on St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John are also made available 219 to partner agencies at no cost. Over the last 12 months (1 May 25 to 1 May 26), VITEMA 220 conducted or hosted 190 events (real world or exercise activations, meetings for partner 221 agencies, training events): 61 at the St. Thomas EOC, 78 at the St. Croix EOC, and 51 at the 222 St. John EOC. 223 Challenges: 224 12 | P a g e • As we are working diligently to on-board and train new 9-1-1 ECC Operators and retain 225 our present experienced talent, VITEMA’s overtime cost continue to increase for 226 Emergency Communication Center Operators. In FY 2025, overtime cost for VITEMA’s 227 9-1-1 operators was $372,048. For FY 2026, as of May 2026, our current overtime cost is 228 $254,957.82, which is a rate of $25,495 per month. Based on current trends, overtime 229 projection for FY2026 is ($101,982 + $254,957) $356,939, with a FY2026 budget of 230 $274,700, we forecast a $82,239 over budget amount, which will be covered by funding 231 from unfilled budgeted staff positions. Reductions in overtime costs are directly related to 232 successfully filling and retaining dispatch operators. Our FY2027 budget for 911 overtime 233 is $219,700, which is $18,308 per month. For FY 2026, the recent ratification of the 234 Collective Bargaining agreement, with salary increases, will go a long way in reducing our 235 high overtime costs. 236 • Computer Aided Dispatch / Record Management System (CAD/ RMS): In FY2026, using 237 the Emergency Services Surcharge / Fund, VITEMA will be upgrading the system 238 hardware and maintenance contract after seven (7) years at a cost of $890,000. The 239 hardware and professional installation services cost is $495,784 with an additional $98,784 240 for annual maintenance covering years 2 through year 5 following installation. 241 • Mobile Emergency Operations Centers (MEOC) – In December 2024, VITEMA 242 decommissioned its two (2) MEOCs after 21 years of service. In 2026, the projected cost 243 to replace the two mobile EOCs is $1,300,000 total. On June 8, 2026, VITEMA submitted 244 an Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Grant Notice of Funding 245 Opportunity (NOFO) Number OIA-TAP-2026 application, for two (2) new mobile 246 Emergency Operations Center vehicles. 247 PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS DIVISION 248 Accomplishments: 249 • VITEMA’s EMAP accreditation is currently in Year 2 of the four-year Continuous 250 Administrative Compliance Process (CACP) cycle, with 18 standards under active review. 251 This work sustains VITEMA's position as the first and only fully EMAP-accredited 252 emergency management agency in the U.S. territories. There is an ongoing annual fee of 253 13 | P a g e $5,000 for program support and software access. VITEMA achieved and maintains this 254 accreditation with no additional staffing. 255 • VITEMA hosted its fourth annual Partners in Preparedness event at the 2026 Agricultural 256 Fair, the division's largest community outreach activity with partnership from O’Neale’s 257 Transport, Crowley, Cost U less and Home Depot. 258 • VITEMA presented at the 2026 National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, Florida, 259 partnering with Jamaica and Anguilla on regional sessions that highlighted shared 260 hurricane preparedness challenges and solutions across the Caribbean. The Federal EMPG 261 provide funding for two (2) individuals with conference registration, travel and lodging. 262 Approximately 31 representatives from the Government of the US Virgin Islands attended 263 in person, funded through their own agencies. 264 • VITEMA successfully completed Capstone 2026, a full-scale functional exercise held June 265 1- June 5, simulating a Category 3 hurricane across all three islands. The exercise tested 266 all Emergency Support Functions, produced a complete Incident Action Plan, and included 267 EMAC (State-to-Stare) resource documentation and Senior Leadership Briefings. It 268 directly supports our federal exercise requirements and EMAP compliance. 269 • VITEMA coordinated territory-wide participation in Caribe Wave 2026 on March 19, 270 2026, achieving 21,526 participants across all four islands. VITEMA participates in the 271 regional tsunami warning coordination body for the Caribbean and presented at the 272 National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) Annual Meeting in Seattle, 273 Washington in May 2026, further establishing the USVI as a recognized leader in tsunami 274 preparedness at the regional and national level. 275 • VITEMA completed Year 2 of the Territorial Tsunami Walk program across all four 276 islands, giving residents hands-on experience navigating evacuation routes to safe 277 assembly points. The program was featured on the cover of the October 2025 edition of 278 TsuInfo Alert, the national tsunami monthly preparedness publication. Additional articles 279 written by Deputy Director Regnia Browne on VITEMA’s tsunami preparedness program 280 are featured in the February 2026, and April 2026 editions. Year 3 of the Territorial 281 Tsunami Walk program launches at the start of the 2027 fiscal year. VITEMA is also on 282 track to designate the first TsunamiReady Supporter in the Territory within the next 60 283 14 | P a g e days, further positioning the USVI as a model for community-level tsunami preparedness 284 in the Caribbean. 285 • The division completed Phase 1 of the Tsunami Awareness and Preparedness Community 286 Assessment, achieving a 27% increase in participation territory-wide with multilingual 287 support in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Phase 2 launches this fiscal year and Phase 288 3 is in planning. This survey approach has been adopted onto NTHMP Mitigation and 289 Education Subcommittee national work plan, meaning the USVI's preparedness 290 methodology is being built into the national framework and opening access to technical 291 collaboration and program resources that directly benefit the territory. Funding through 292 NTHMP provided $30,000 for Phase 1 and an additional $30,000 for Phase 2. 293 • The division secured FY26 NOAA/NWS Tsunami Activities grant funding supporting 294 active programming across the territory, including the Tsunami Walk program, Tsunami 295 Focal Point training for 911 dispatchers, and community outreach and education. Under a 296 separate Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) award, VITEMA completed Phase 1 297 procurement for territorial tsunami warning signage, with engineering design and benefit- 298 cost analysis underway toward Phase 2 installation of approximately 500 signs across all 299 three islands. The Center for Education about Risks both Coastal and Aquatic (CERCA), 300 funded through CARICOOS, is on track to open on St. Croix within the next 45 days. 301 Funding is provided through HMGP with $74,240 available for Phase 1. The St. Thomas 302 CERCA previously opened in December 2025 and is located at the Children’s Museum in 303 Buccaneer Mall / Havensight. 304 • The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was successfully 305 relaunched in 2025 following a multi-year suspension, with classes running through June 306 and into July 2026. The relaunch expands VITEMA's community preparedness 307 infrastructure and supports volunteer capacity across the territory. Homeland Security 308 Grant Program (HSGP) provides $83,197 for this program. 309 • The Planning and Preparedness Division met or exceeded all KPI targets for Fiscal Year 310 2026. The division achieved a 97% rating for training VITEMA personnel on core 311 competencies within one year of their start date, tracked through the GVI Territorial 312 Training Matrix and the VITEMA Training Matrix. Outreach activities exceeded the 313 15 | P a g e annual goal of 122, with 132 activities completed, a 108% achievement rate. This includes 314 the 2025 Great ShakeOut on October 16, 2025, which drew 32,056 registered participants 315 territory-wide, a 34% increase over 2024. All planned exercises were successfully planned 316 and supported territory-wide. The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program 317 (NEHRP) grant provided $10,000 for this exercise and outreach events. 318 SMART Objectives (FY2026 / FY2027): 319 • By October 31, 2026, complete Year 2 of the EMAP CACP compliance cycle by 320 submitting all 18 assigned standards to PowerDMS with supporting documentation, 321 sustaining VITEMA's position as the first EMAP-accredited territorial emergency 322 management agency in the United States. Funding of $900 is provided annually by GVI 323 general funds. 324 • By September 30, 2026, launch Phase 2 of the Social Science-Driven Tsunami Community 325 Assessment targeting a 15% increase in survey participation over Phase 1 baseline, with 326 findings submitted to the NTHMP Mitigation and Education Subcommittee. By June 30, 327 2027, complete Phase 3 and deliver a survey guidebook for use by other NTHMP member 328 states and territories, fulfilling VITEMA's commitment to the national work plan. NTHMP 329 provides $30,000 for this phase. 330 • By September 30, 2027, advance VITEMA's authority has jurisdiction status, enabling the 331 agency to independently deliver ICS 300 and ICS 400 courses in the Territory, reducing 332 dependence on federal scheduling and building a sustainable training pipeline that supports 333 both personnel readiness and long-term EMAP compliance. 334 Challenges: 335 • The recent removal of CERT as a priority under the Department of Homeland Security 336 grant program creates direct risk for the program's long-term sustainability. VITEMA 337 successfully relaunched CERT after a multi-year suspension and classes are actively 338 running. Without federal backing, continued delivery will require territorial funding 339 support to keep the program alive and growing. Starting in FY2029, if no federal funding 340 16 | P a g e becomes available, VITEMA would request $10,000 per year from GVI funding to sustain 341 the program for both districts. 342 • Tsunami preparedness funding has seen continued reductions at the federal level, creating 343 pressure on the division's ability to sustain and grow programming. A key priority going 344 forward is developing projects that can be formally endorsed by the NTHMP Mitigation 345 Subcommittees, which strengthens the territory's position in the national funding 346 conversation and reduces the risk of further cuts. VITEMA's current grant application 347 reflects this strategy, aligning proposed work directly with national subcommittee priorities 348 to make the strongest possible case for full funding restoration. Through continued success 349 in these local projects, federal funding should remain available. 350 • Training delivery was reduced this fiscal year due to multiple federal furloughs, which 351 disrupted scheduled ICS 300 and ICS 400 course offerings. These courses are VITEMA 352 agency requirements and are 100% federally funded but are currently offered only once 353 per year in the Territory. VITEMA has been working aggressively to reschedule impacted 354 training. Looking ahead, VITEMA's pursuit of authority having jurisdiction status would 355 allow the agency to deliver these courses independently, significantly strengthening the 356 territory's training pipeline. 357 LOGISTICS 358 Accomplishments: 359 • VITEMA maintains its ten (10) 100kw mobile power generators for temporary use by GVI 360 agencies. Of the 10 temporary generators, 7 are either dispatched, in the process of being 361 dispatched, or are in reserve status with pre-identified facilities. Currently three (3) 362 generators are dispatched on St. Croix to support the JFL Hospital dialysis center, 363 Department of Human Services contingency planning for D.C. Canegata congregate shelter 364 operations, and Department of Health contingency planning for CTEC medical special 365 needs shelter. On St. Thomas, two (2) generators support Department of Human Services 366 contingency planning for Ivanna Eudora Kean Gym and Ivanna Eudora Kean Cafeteria 367 congregate shelter operations. An additional 100 kw generator is scheduled to be 368 dispatched to the Department of Health Eldra Shulterbrandt Mental Health Facility. On St. 369 17 | P a g e John, one (1) 100kw generator is scheduled to be dispatched to VI Police Department 370 Jurgen Command in Cruz Bay. In addition to dispatching temporary generators, VITEMA 371 funds the initial fueling of facilities identified by the Department of Human Services to 372 serve as congregate shelters either before or following a State of Emergency. Two facilities 373 with new generators, Julius E. Sprauve School on St. John and BC Boschulte School on 374 St. Thomas, are allotted $33,000 total to support their initial diesel fuel supply. 375 • VITEMA maintains its six (6) light set / 5 kw generator units with 2 on St Croix, 2 on St 376 Thomas and 2 on St John. The units have been used continuously throughout the year to 377 provide safety lighting for nighttime events and emergency support with government 378 agencies at no cost. 379 • VITEMA’s vehicle fleet added six (6) new vehicles in FY2026, bringing a total of 14 380 vehicles to its fleet. Seven (7) of the total fleet vehicles are assigned to the Office of 381 Disaster Recovery – Public Assistance. 382 • For hurricane season 2025 VITEMA spent $37,000 to purchase sand and sandbags to 383 support Operation Blue Skies – sandbag distribution – to individuals, government agencies, 384 and a few key essential business partners. Distribution occurred 13-15 August at 385 Department of Public Works facilities on St. Croix and St. Thomas, and at VI Fire Stations 386 located on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. On September 6, 2025, a Department of 387 Public Works truck and staff transported 200 sandbags to Water Island for local home 388 owners. By the end of the 2025 hurricane season, the Territory had exhausted its supply of 389 sand and sandbags. For FY2026 and FY2027 there are $0 / zero dollars budgeted for 390 purchase of sand and sandbags. 391 • With funding from the Federal EMPG Grant, VITEMA has spent $7,000 to purchase a 392 total of 17 Starlink antenna kits for Emergency Communications use at both its Emergency 393 Operation Centers and mobile field operations. All EOCs have successfully deployed the 394 Starlink antennas during exercises supporting Hurricane, Tsunami, and Earthquake disaster 395 scenarios. A Starlink antenna is a satellite dish designed to connect users to SpaceX’s 396 Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, providing high-speed internet even in 397 remote or mobile locations. 398 • Pursuant to Act No. 9035 / Bill No. 36-0174 Emergency Shelter Fund, VITEMA is allotted 399 $100,000 for Hurricane Season 2026 to improved facilities identified by the Department 400 18 | P a g e of Human Services as congregate shelters of by the Department of Health as medical 401 special needs shelter. Currently, weekly VITEMA facilitates weekly shelter assessment 402 SITREP meeting with 11 agencies, to include DHS, DOH, VIFEMS, BSCM, VIDE, VIPD, 403 VINGN, and the American Red Cross to identify funding requirements and prioritized 404 spending for shelters on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. 405 Challenges: 406 • For almost nine years, VITEMA Hazard Mitigation Wind Retrofit / Safe Room project at 407 St Croix Hermon Hill has been in the design phase. VITEMA successfully completed the 408 required Federal Consistency Determinitation (FCD) hearing on project CZM-0020-24 409 VITEMA EOC, Estate Hermon Hill, St. Croix, demolition and reconstruction project, on 410 May 20, 2025. Accompaning the passing vote by the Board were fifteen special conditions 411 listed, which VITEMA is responsible for compliance. On July 1, 2025, FEMA provided an 412 Amendment #4 approval letter which provided the following: The project total funded 413 amount remains at $22,509,692. However, A&E projected costs increased to $3,696,347, 414 construction costs decreased to $18,276,516, and contingency costs increased to 415 $1,098,643, divided into $184,817 for A&E contingencies and $913,825 for construction 416 contingencies. Currently the A&E firm has completed a 60% design package and Peer 417 Review, per FEMA requirements. As of April 30, 2026, $2,600,126 has been spent on 418 A&E Task Order for the VITEMA Hazard Mitigation Wind Retrofit / Safe Room project. 419 • St. Thomas EOC Repair - Repairs under the FEMA Public Assistance grant of $1.4 million 420 has commenced. An additional $999,201 from insurance proceeds brings the total to $2.4 421 million of which $140,000 is two (2) percent cost share sourced from HUD CDBG-DR 422 funds. Phase 1 (roof work) is complete. VITEMA is currently in Phase 2 and has reviewed 423 the contractor bids with support from the Department of Property and Procurement. The 424 selection of the contractor is pending final verification of remaining funds and access to 425 insurance proceeds and HUD CDGB-DR funds. 426 • Tsunami Warning Siren Maintenace – Currently a large percent of the Tsunami Warning 427 Sirens are failing primarily due to batteries, which were originally installed in 2022. The 428 VITEMA EMPG grant funded $90,316 in FY2026 for maintenance of all 44 sirens; 19 on 429 19 | P a g e St. Thomas, 1 on Water Island, 7 on St. John, and 17 on St. Croix. The contract has been 430 awareded and the vendor, American Signal Corporation (ASC) began work on June 8, 431 starting on St. Thomas. Once St. Thomas is complete, ASC will go to St. John and then 432 finish up on St. Croix. The current project timeline is to complete and test all sirens on St. 433 Thomas, St. John, and Water Islands, no later than June 26, and finish up by July 10, on 434 St. Croix. 435 CLOSING COMMENTS 436 Finally, to the hardworking staff at VITEMA, 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center, and the 437 Fusion Center – thank you for your commitment and dedication to the Agency, its mission, and 438 the People of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Emergency Management is tough work. Your jobs are not 439 easy, but you show up every day to ensure that the mandates of the Agency are met. When disaster 440 strikes, you respond. You are integral to the continued success of our Agency, with your leadership 441 and knowledge of the Incident Command System. Again, thank you. 442 On a somber note, I want to publicly acknowledge the untimely and sudden passing of one of our 443 VITEMA / ODR Hazard Mitigation staff members on August 7, 2025, Ms. Amika Hennman, at 444 the young age of 44. She was the niece of Ms. Debra Henneman-Smith who served VITEMA as 445 the Deputy Director of Finance and Administration for many years, including through Hurricanes 446 Irman and Maria and retired in September 2020 after 20 plus years of service. Amika was a 447 tremendous contributor to the agency and is profoundly missed. 448 Committee Chairman, Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. and other Committee members, this budget 449 is adequate to address the immediate priorities of the Administration for the upcoming fiscal year. 450 If a need arises for additional resources, we will have that discussion with Governor Bryan and the 451 OMB Director. At this time I would like to present a short video showing VITEMA and some of 452 our fellow agency partners in-action over the past 12-months. [LEGISLATURE MEDIA PLAYS 453 VIDEO]. 454 My team and I thank you for the opportunity to speak on VITEMA’s proposed FY 2027 budget. 455 We are ready to address your questions. 456