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U.S. Virgin Islands hurricane guide

The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) leads hurricane preparedness and response for the whole territory, with an emergency operations center on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. There are no county or city governments, so territorial agencies run every service, island by island. VITEMA's main advice is to shelter in place if your home is structurally sound, and to go to a shelter only if your home is unsafe, leaving before tropical storm winds begin. Sign up for Alert VI and keep supplies for several days: VITEMA suggests 3 to 10 days, and at least 10 days on St. John, where ferries may take longer to return. Plan for ports and ferries to close when a storm is near.

Checked on October 2, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA). In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

Islands

Choose your island. The U.S. Virgin Islands have no county or city governments, so each island page has the territory's emergency numbers, offices, and shelter information for that island.

More places are on the way. Until yours is listed, see the official sources page or call 211.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Text 911 911 Text 911 if you cannot safely make a voice call. Call if you can. Write your texts in English, and put your location and the kind of help you need in the first message.
VITEMA, St. Thomas 340-774-2244 Office line. Not for emergencies.
VITEMA, St. Croix 340-773-2244 Office line. Not for emergencies.
VITEMA, St. John 340-776-2244 Office line. Not for emergencies.

Official alerts and information

  • Alert VI: VITEMA's official emergency notification system, with alerts by call, text, and email. Free alerts by text, email, or phone. Sign up before a storm. Website.

Territory-wide resources

  • Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA): The territory's emergency management agency. During a storm, VITEMA posts daily updates on social media and any immediate emergency actions on this site. Website.
  • VITEMA Hurricanes page: How to prepare your home, make a plan, and shelter in place, and what watches and warnings mean. Website.
  • Key Documents and Reports (VITEMA): Guides to building a stronger home, securing roofs, doors, windows, and shutters, and rebuilding a flood-damaged house. Also curfew pass forms for essential businesses. Website.
  • Your Health and Cisterns (Department of Planning and Natural Resources): Before a storm, VITEMA and FEMA advise filling your cistern, then closing off the water source or turning the catchment away from the cistern so stormwater stays out. Keep a separate supply of safe water too: about 1 gallon per person per day, ideally for two weeks and at least 3 days. This DPNR guide explains how to clean, protect, and treat cistern water. Website.
  • Travel alerts (Virgin Islands Port Authority): Updates on seaports, airports, and ferries before and after storms. The US Coast Guard sets port conditions as a storm nears, and ports, including the ferry between St. Thomas and St. John, can close. Website.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Shelters open only when the government announces them. The Department of Human Services runs shelters with the Red Cross and other partners. Some storms bring no public shelters at all: for Tropical Storm Ernesto in 2024, Human Services opened no congregate shelters. VITEMA says shelter information is updated as it becomes available, and asks you to shelter in place if your home is structurally sound. Watch Alert VI, VITEMA, and Government House announcements, and see your island page for the 2026 planning list.

Official list of open evacuation centers

Help to evacuate

  • Medical special needs shelter and VITRAN Plus registration (Department of Human Services): Register before a storm if you will need help to evacuate or a special needs shelter. The Department of Health runs medical special needs shelters for people who pre-register with Human Services. St. Croix: 340-773-1664 (backup 340-643-1495). St. Thomas: 340-774-5678 (backup 340-201-5212). St. John: 340-774-0165 (backup 340-642-4499). You can also register in person. Phone: 340-773-1664. Website.
  • Senior Registry (Elder, Dependent Adult, and Disabled Persons Disaster Registry): For people 60 and older who live alone, and anyone with a disability who lives alone. Forms are at Human Services, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and Elections System offices. Human Services shares the list with VITEMA, 911, and Fire and EMS before hurricane season, and officials decide after a major storm whether to check on people on the list. Website.

After the storm: help for displaced residents

If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.

Food

  • SNAP replacement and disaster food benefits (Department of Human Services): If you lose food bought with SNAP because of a disaster, a flood, or a power outage of four hours or more, you may get replacement benefits. Report the loss within 10 days. After Tropical Storm Ernesto in 2024, USDA approved replacements for households on all three islands. SNAP Certification Unit: St. Thomas 340-774-0930 ext. 4303 or 340-774-2399, St. Croix 340-772-7120, St. John 340-776-6334. Phone: 340-774-0930. Website.

Money, work and insurance

  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance (Virgin Islands Department of Labor): For people who lose work because of a declared disaster. The Department of Labor ran this program after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. After a declared disaster, watch for the department's announcements. Unemployment Insurance Division: St. Thomas 340-776-3700, St. Croix 340-773-1994. You can file a claim online. Phone: 340-776-3700. Website.
  • Legal Services of the Virgin Islands: Free civil legal help for low-income residents, including FEMA appeals, insurance and contractor disputes, housing, and replacing lost documents. St. Thomas office: 340-777-8686 or 340-774-6720. St. Croix office: 340-718-8593 or 340-718-2626. Disaster hotlines, open only during a government-declared disaster: St. Thomas 340-643-5784, St. Croix 340-626-9884. Phone: 340-777-8686. Website.

Emotional support

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call, text, or chat 988 at any hour for free, confidential help. The VI Department of Health says 988 is available in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Phone: 988. Website.

Scams, contractors and price gouging

  • Division of Banking, Insurance and Financial Regulation (Office of the Lieutenant Governor): Regulates insurance companies and takes complaints about insurance claims. The complaint form is on its page. St. Thomas and St. John: 340-774-2991. St. Croix: 340-773-6449. Review your coverage early: once a storm is named, insurers will not issue new policies or change coverage. Phone: 340-774-2991. Website.
  • Price gouging (Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs): When the Governor declares a state of emergency for a storm, prices on the hurricane price lists businesses filed with DLCA are frozen until the emergency ends. Report suspected price gouging to the Consumer Affairs Division. St. Thomas: 340-714-3522. St. Croix: 340-713-3522. St. John: 340-727-3303. You can also file a complaint online. Phone: 340-714-3522. Website.

Sources

Checked on October 2, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.