Resource and Capability Transportation Support during Disasters (RCTSD) VIPER

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II has the responsibility of supporting the disaster response and recovery efforts for the severely impacted United States territories of Puerto Rico (PR) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Hurricanes Irma & Maria have brought unprecedented damages, therefore amplifying the response and recovery effort challenges that affected FEMA’s response to survivors located throughout the islands, specifically to those secluded areas like the mountain and inland regions. Accessibility issues due to damaged transportation infrastructure has survivors waiting longer periods of time to receive life sustaining supplies. A major part of the response and recovery effort revolves around supplying the affected area with Initial Response Resources (IRR). These include life supporting and life sustaining IRRs such as but not limited to water, meals, cots, tarps, plastic sheeting, blankets, sandbags, generators, and fuel which are needed to lessen damage before or after a disaster. FEMA lacks readiness on these islands due to the deficiency of an IRR footprint, unavailable warehousing space and minimum full time FEMA/CORE personnel in the USVI & PR to support the magnitude of this response. Additionally, FEMA needs to move Inter-agency resources and support functions into the affected areas in order to support critical needs such as infrastructure, electricity and sewage repairs; provide medical requirements and services; and bring basic human needs like water and meals to those in need.