Brick Police EMS Join Hurricane Relief Efforts In U.S. Virgin Islands

BRICK, NJ — A group of EMS personnel from Brick Township are en route to the U.S. Virgins Islands to assist with hurricane recovery efforts after the islands were hit by both Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in the last month.

The personnel — four EMS personnel and a mechanic — were activated by the New Jersey EMS Task Force, said Sgt. Neal Pedersen, public information officer for the Brick Township Police Department.

They were headed to St. Thomas, Pedersen said.

A New York Times report said the hospital on St. Thomas (along with one on St. Croix) likely will have to be torn down and rebuilt because of the devastation of the 1-2 punch from the two hurricanes. The hospital in St. Thomas has to send critically ill patients to the mainland, the report said.

Pedersen said the group from Brick took an oxygen generator and an Alternate Support Apparatus or ASAP vehicle.

"Equipment from agencies around the state was also taken and loaded into military planes at McGuire Air Force Base," Pedersen said. The EMS units will be assisting medical personnel as they recover from the storms.

Pedersen said they are scheduled to be in St Thomas for two weeks, dependent upon transportation availability.

Photos via Brick Township Police Emergency Services Facebook page