ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands — On Friday, June 12, 2026, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), key Government of the Virgin Islands agencies, and semi-autonomous agencies spent two hours providing Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. and FEMA Region 2 with results of the 2026 Capstone Hurricane Readiness Exercise — a multi-day functional training event conducted June 1–5, 2026. The exercise tested the Territory’s capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a major hurricane disaster, reinforcing the USVI’s commitment to saving lives and protecting property during hurricane season.
The Capstone Exercise was built around a realistic scenario involving Hurricane Steve, a fictional Category 3 hurricane that made landfall on St. John, USVI — testing the Territory’s multi-island, multi-agency response under real-world conditions. The exercise engaged participants across all Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) and activated the VITEMA Emergency Operations Centers on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John simultaneously.
Over five days, participants worked through the full arc of emergency response — from pre-landfall preparations and public notifications through active search and rescue, shelter operations, critical infrastructure restoration, and interagency communications. Key areas exercised included:
•Unified command and multi-agency coordination across GVI departments, semi-autonomous entities,and federal partners;
•Mass care and shelter operations, including congregate shelter activation, capacity coordination, andsupport for vulnerable populations;
•Critical infrastructure assessment and power restoration strategies (WAPA) and emergency fuel supplyand generator prioritization (VIEO);
•Emergency public communications and Joint Information Center (JIC) operations, including a live mockpress conference;
•Patient movement, medical shelter management, and hospital continuity of operations (ESF-8 /Department of Health);
•Access control, law enforcement deployment, and curfew management (VIPD);
•Ferry service operations and port access under storm conditions (VIPA);
•Route clearance and damage assessment protocols (DPW);
•Disaster assistance, visitor welfare, and school closure communications (DHS and Department ofTourism).
“Preparedness is built on planning, practice and the willingness to identify where we can improvebefore a crisis occurs. The Capstone tabletop exercise provided our emergency management teams,government agencies and community partners with a valuable opportunity to test our responsesystems, identify strengths and uncover areas where we can sharpen our coordination. The lessons learned from this exercise will help us refine our plans, strengthen our partnerships and ensure that when the Virgin Islands faces a challenge, we are ready to respond with urgency, unity and purpose.”-
The Honorable Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of US Virgin Islands
“Every year, when we conduct our Hurricane Readiness Exercise, we learn. We learn about urgency, we learn about teamwork, and we learn the importance of having Federal partners next to us when we need them most. I am very proud to see many familiar faces, and a few new ones, who have been through not only the many exercises but have gone through the actual events. Having knowledge of our processes and working within the priorities of the Governor, to assist our community following a hurricane, minimizes delays and maximizes immediate response, which ultimately saves lives.”–
Daryl Jaschen, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
The successful completion of the Capstone Exercise marks a critical milestone as the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season enters its most active months. VITEMA urges all residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands to remain prepared: reinforce your home, review your family emergency plan, and ensure you have a minimum of 3–10 days of essential supplies on hand.
“As we get ready for another Atlantic hurricane season, I am encouraged by the leadership the U.S. Virgin Islands demonstrated in driving preparedness across the territory. These workshops and exercises showed just how committed VITEMA and the government of the USVI are to making sure the territory is ready to respond, with FEMA and our federal partners standing by to support should a storm exceed the capacity of the territory. I urge all residents to take action now. Review your emergency plans and stay informed.”—
Chris Hartnett, Regional Administrator FEMA Region 2
Residents are also reminded that once a tropical storm or hurricane is officially named, insurance carriers will not issue new policies or make changes to existing coverage. Review your homeowner’s, renter’s, and flood insurance coverage now, before a storm develops.
For the latest updates, preparedness resources, and to sign up for Alert VI emergency notifications, visit vitema.vi.gov and follow VITEMA on social media.
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