St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) will be hosting a multi-agency field exercise on Saturday, August 17th at the former Elena L. Christian Junior High School campus in La Grande Princesse. The exercise will ensure agencies which have a vested stake in emergency services and urban search and rescue, have an opportunity to practice life-saving techniques and coordination details.

Participants will include The Virgin Islands Fire Services, Virgin Islands Emergency Medical Services, Virgin Islands Police Department, St. Croix Rescue, and the Puerto Rico Urban Search and Rescue. The exercise will strengthen the present processes of emergency response within the territory, and with our partners in Puerto Rico. Participating agencies and partners will gain critical hands-on experience and familiarization in utilizing all systems in a non-life-threatening scenario.

Residents of the La Grande Princesse community and surrounding neighborhoods may experience emergency alarm sounds and heavy equipment effects in the area to simulate an actual emergency response.

The media is welcomed to observe the process and to conduct interviews with participating agency leads. The exercise will begin at 7:00 a.m. and will last until late afternoon.