The Virgin Islands National Guard convened a two-day symposium Wednesday to update the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, members of stateside National Guard units who have committed to support the territory in the event of a catastrophic disaster.

“They’ll be called only in case of a catastrophic event” such as Hurricane Hugo or Hurricane Marilyn, according to Elton Lewis, director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency.

Approximately 30 National Guard members from Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., joined 20 VING members for the workshop at the Estate Bethlehem military compound on St. Croix.

There were also representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Northern Command, the V.I. government and the National Guard Bureau.

“They’re here so we’ll not make decisions in a vacuum. They’ll be walking the real estate,” Lewis said.

Lewis greeted the audience and listed major challenges after a disaster, including access to adequate medical resources, airports and hospitals.

It is difficult to provide food, shelter and medical care for a population who “basically doesn’t have anyplace to go” after a weather event, he said. Lewis is the territorial coordinating officer who will be in charge of the territory’s response to a disaster.

Adj. Gen. Renaldo Rivera also addressed the group and talked about how a tsunami would affect the islands, especially St. Thomas, because the major infrastructure and population are on the waterfront.

Businesses, families, schools and the airport would be devastated, Rivera said. With dozens of small earthquakes in the Caribbean every day, “it’s coming,” he warned.

“Every storm changes the land, the economy, and changes people,” Rivera said, adding that self-preservation becomes all-important.

The purpose of the workshop was to “synchronize active duty and other responders and response plans,” said Col. Edward Richards, director of VING operations. Over two days, they will identify the capabilities and equipment of the EMAC partners that would be available to the Virgin Islands.

According to Richards, the stateside units will be alerted as a major storm approaches the territory to determine the availability of soldiers, equipment and their transportation to the islands. These units would work with local responders but would be responsible for their own supplies.

Since many of the guests had not previously visited the territory, a brief snapshot was presented by Maj. Donald Woodley, joint director of Military Support, with input from Richards and Lt. Col. Kenneth Alleyne.

In addition to maps and graphics explaining the climate, population, geography, political structure, public safety and military agencies and the economy, they discussed culture, infrastructure and hospitals, airports and seaports on each island.

The territory is susceptible mainly to hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis. Hurricanes are most likely, but earthquakes and tsunamis are the most serious, Woodley said.

According to Woodley, there are a variety of “shortfalls” facing V.I. first responders. Not only will equipment be needed, but also people to drive vehicles and to help with communications, logistical planning and security. Logistical, military and civil engineering assistance would be necessary to reopen the airports, he said.

“About 700,000 pounds of commodities are needed to support our population,” Woodley added.

Since the territory lacks a trauma unit, the stateside Guard members would be called on to provide medical care and Medivac services.

Alleyne pointed out that many of the local government agencies need to interact with their federal counterparts to learn what resources are available after a disaster.

Next week, VING will conduct “Operation Forward Guardian,” an exercise to put into practice what was learned this week, Richards said.