January 31, 2018

Montgomery County Deploys Support for US Virgin’s Islands



Montgomery County is providing support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) for the ongoing disaster recovery effort in the US Virgin Islands (USVI). The islands continue to recover from devastation caused by two Category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, which hit the islands last fall.

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (8), Police Department (1) and Department of Health & Human Services (1) deployed 10 personnel as part of Maryland’s team tasked with providing Critical Incident Stress Management training, including psychological self-care, to USVI emergency responders. These critical efforts help ensure that the USVI responders do not experience long-term psychological issues such as PTSD. This deployment is anticipated to last 22 days.

The County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security provides continual tracking support for the County’s deployed personnel and assists with the completion of post-deployment documentation. The EMAC guarantees full cost recovery eligibility for any deployment-related expense incurred by the County.