CDP anticipates expansion of training activity in U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico

On the heels of its recent successes in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the Center for Domestic Preparedness is anticipating an expansion of its training activity in those locations.

In June, the center virtually delivered multiple offerings of its Emergency Medical Response Awareness (EMRA), Health Sector Emergency Preparedness (HSEP) I and II, and Barrier Precautions and Controls for Highly Infectious Disease (HID) courses and trained more than 500 responders in the two U.S. territories.  

That effort built on in-person training the CDP conducted in Puerto Rico in 2018 and 2019, following hurricanes Irma and Maria, when it delivered several courses and helped prepare more than 1,000 of the island’s public health and healthcare workers for future disasters.

The CDP is now looking to participate in a training needs assessment with representatives of the two territories to “determine what (CDP) courses and exercises will best fulfill their training needs,” according to center training and education department officials.  

While the officials said “Nailing down specifics at this point isn’t possible until we can meet in person with those stakeholders and evaluate training locations on the islands,” they noted that they  anticipate the assessment to result in an expansion of both the number and types of courses they will be asked to deliver and the number and types of responders who will receive the training.  

Puerto Rico is home to about 3.5 million people, while the U.S. Virgin Islands – which consist of Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas and about 50 other islands – is home to a little more than 100,000 people. Both territories also welcome millions of tourists each year.