V.I. Code tit. 23, § 1006 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 23 - Internal Security and Public Order|Chapter 10 - Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Act|Subchapter I - Emergencies and Major Disasters|§ 1006. Creation of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency; duties; Director

 (a) VITEMA shall have one Director, one Assistant Director, and such Deputy Directors or Associate Directors as determined necessary, with the approval of the Governor, in order for VITEMA to effectively and efficiently meet its mandates. (b) The Director shall be the executive head of VITEMA and shall be responsible for coordinating the entire emergency management program for the Territory. The Director shall maintain liaison with emergency management agencies and organizations of states, of the federal government, of national organizations and of neighboring territories and countries. (c) VITEMA, under the direction of the Director, shall prepare and maintain VITEMP, which shall consist of one territorial administrative plan, an emergency operations plan for each island, and such other plans as are appropriate. VITEMP shall provide for: 1. Prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused by an emergency or major disaster; 2. Prompt and effective response to an emergency or major disaster; 3. Emergency relief; identification of areas particularly vulnerable to an emergency or major disaster; 4. Coordination with local officials in designing local action plans; 5. Establishment of procedures for the construction of temporary or permanent projects designed to protect against or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from hurricane, flood, conflagration, or other emergency or major disaster; 6. Preparation and distribution to the appropriate territorial and local officials of information regarding federal, territorial and private assistance programs; 7. Organization of manpower and chains of command; 8. Coordination of federal, territorial, private and local emergency activities; 9. Coordination of VITEMP with applicable federal programs, FEMA, territorial programs, other jurisdictions and private industries; 10. Establishment of administrative procedures for enforcing compliance with federal and territorial standards to achieve the objectives of emergency management planning; 11. Establishment of emergency management programs which address all hazards, including, but not limited to, terrorist threats or other actions to which the Virgin Islands community is particularly vulnerable and providing specific technical information concerning the use of equipment and special methods by which such hazards may be addressed; and 12. Establishment of procedures for assisting special needs persons during an emergency. (d) In preparing and maintaining VITEMP, VITEMA shall seek the advice and assistance of FEMA, other federal agencies, volunteer organizations and other disaster preparedness agencies and other community leaders. (e) VITEMP or any part thereof and a listing of the resources to be utilized in implementing the Plan may be incorporated in regulations of VITEMA. The VITEMA Council shall promulgate rules and regulations, subject to approval of the Governor, necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. (f) The Territorial Public Assistance Unit (the “Unit”), previously placed under the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to Executive Order 371-1997, is hereby placed under VITEMA, which shall incorporate the Unit into VITEMA in a manner as may be found to be appropriate by the Director to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Unit.