VITEMA Grades Hurricane Readiness a B- as Agencies Cite Shelter Staffing, St. John Gaps and WAPA Financial Strain

One month into the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, emergency management, health, utility, public safety and infrastructure officials told lawmakers Tuesday that the territory has made preparations for storms, but several unresolved gaps remain in shelter staffing, St. John operations, patient movement, dialysis continuity, supply distribution, communications and WAPA’s financial readiness. The testimony came before the Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure, and Planning, where department heads and agency representatives discussed their readiness posture and the work still underway. Among the most significant issues raised was the 2026 Capstone Readiness Initiative. Daryl Jaschen, director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, said the exercise identified several areas needing improvement, including “St. John operational gaps, shelter staff vulnerabilities, points of distribution role confusion, and communication quality.” According to Mr. Jaschen, those failu...