The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency is advancing its technological capabilities to better serve and protect the community.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, VITEMA successfully completed its weekly Emergency Support Function 5 (ESF-5) meet using Starlink satellite internet service, achieving seamless connectivity across all three islands. St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John participated in the coordinated meeting from their respective Emergency Operating Centers (EOCs), with zero connectivity issues reported—demonstrating the transformative power of this cutting-edge technology for territorial emergency preparedness.
The meetings, bring together key territorial agencies and stakeholders including the Department of Public Works, Waste Management Authority, Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Services, the Energy Office, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority WAPA, and numerous other critical response partners. VITEMA maintains year-round readiness while utilizing the proven reliability of its Starlink service with access to VITEMA’s web-based emergency management information system, WebEOC, for real-time common operating picture and resource management tool. ESF-5, which focuses on emergency management coordination, serves as the backbone for gathering, analyzing, and disseminating critical information to support situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies and disasters.
Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX that provides high-speed, low-latency internet access through a constellation of over 6,000 small satellites orbiting approximately 342 miles above Earth in low Earth orbit (LEO). The system operates independently of ground-based infrastructure, requiring only an unobstructed view of the sky to maintain connectivity. This makes it particularly valuable in disaster scenarios where traditional telecommunications towers and fiber optic cables may be damaged or destroyed.
St. Croix Source
Local government
