The Virgin Islands Department of Health (VIDOH) Office of Public Health Preparedness Program (PHP) was created in 2001. The purpose of the program is to improve public health preparedness capacity by ensuring coordination among local, territorial, state, and federal agencies, including health care partners before, during, and after public health events.

Local, territorial, and state public health authorities have always played an important role in all phases of the emergency management system, including: preparedness planning and hazard mitigation, emergency response, and disaster recovery. This new level of commitment to public health preparedness improves local and territorial capacity to respond to any health emergency.

The Public Health Preparedness Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Cooperative Agreement and the Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA). 

Program Services

Public Health Preparedness Activities include:

• Conducts ongoing, periodic assessments of public health system capacities related to pandemics, outbreaks, chemical & biological events, and other public health emergencies to improve planning, coordination, and implementation.
• Develops and exercises a comprehensive public health emergency preparedness plan to respond to emergencies caused by bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
• Coordinates with federal agencies to ensure state, local, and regional preparedness for bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
• Ensures the Virgin Islands Healthcare Delivery system has the capacity to respond to all public health emergencies.
• Manages the CDC Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), should it be deployed in U.S. Virgin Islands. Prepares SNS plans and periodic exercises to train individuals who are part of SNS preparedness.
• Operates the Secure Virgin Islands Health Alert Network (HAN), as part of the national CDC HAN program and its affiliated information systems.

Fact Sheets & Downloads

• Coping with Disaster After a Traumatic Event .pdf
• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease .pdf
• Legionnaires' Disease .pdf

Additional Resources

Virgin Island Partner Organizations

• Schneider Regional Medical Center
• American Red Cross
• VITEMA

Federal Government

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS): Disasters & Emergencies
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Disaster Distress

Territory and Federal Emergency Contact Phone Numbers

Virgin Islands Department of Health
St. Thomas: 340-774-9000
St. Croix: 340-718-1311

Poison Control - 800-222-1222
CDC Emergency Response - 770-488-7100

CDC Public Emergency Hotline - 888-246-2675 (English);
888-246-2857 (Spanish);
866-874-2646 (hearing impaired)

Disaster Distress Helpline - 800-985-5990
A free, confidential 24 hour/7 days week crisis hotline that offers emotional support to anyone affected by a man-made of natural disaster