Virgin Islands residents can download the schedule of 2026 tests of the National Early Warning Multi-hazard Alert System at www.bviddm.com/download/2026-system-tests/. Sirens and other elements of the early warning system are generally tested on the fourth Friday each month. Exceptions are made for the national exercises Caribe Wave in March and ShakeOut in October, as well as for Christmas. 

The Department of Disaster Management encourages residents to become familiar with scheduled test dates, and to test home and business emergency procedures regularly. 

To test your emergency plan, practise how you would respond to an emergency by having all persons in the household or team members get to your designated shelter-in-place or evacuation location; check emergency supplies; and test emergency communication systems. 

For advice on creating a home or business emergency plan, or for more information about the National Early Warning Multi-hazard Alert System, please contact the Department of Disaster Management at (284) 468-4200.