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The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, VITEMA, has been activated in the wake of the threat of Hurricane Earl to the Virgin Islands. VITEMA Director Mark A. Walters said Sunday that at the present time and based on the latest forecasts, Earl is expected to bring tropical storm force winds and rains to the islands of St. John and St. Thomas on Monday.
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At 8:30 a.m. Sunday Tropical Storm Earl was upgraded to a Category One Hurricane, and the territory was placed under tropical storm warning, which means the territory will experience tropical storm force winds and heavy rainfall within the next 24 hours. A hurricane watch which was posted on Saturday night remains in effect for all of the Virgin Islands.
At 11 a.m., the center of Hurricane Earl was located about 438 miles east of St. Croix near 17.2 north, 58.4 west. Earl is moving west at 17 miles per hour. A turn toward the west-northwest with a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected during the next day or so. Top winds are near 75 miles per hour with higher gusts.
Earl is a Category One Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours and Earl is forecast to become a major hurricane by Tuesday. Hurricane force winds (winds in excess of 74 miles per hour) extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds (winds of 39 miles per hour) extend outward up to 160 miles from the center. Virgin Islands residents and visitors should be aware of the threat of rain and gusty winds.
Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. will make a statement later this evening as regards the opening of schools and government operations for Monday. The Virgin Islands Government is continuing to closely monitor the potential threat to the territory by Hurricane Earl. Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. and Lt. Governor Gregory R. Francis have received regular updates on Hurricane Earl and have just concluded a conference call between the VI Emergency Management Council, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Incident Management Assistance Team, the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Weather Service.
Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls has also announced that sand bags are available at Public Works headquarters on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. On St. Thomas, sandbags can be picked up at the Public Works headquarters in Subbase and at the Fort Christian fire station. On St. John residents in need of sandbags can pick them up at the Public Works Complex in Cruz Bay and on St. Croix the bags are available at the DPW Annas’ Hope Complex.
The U.S. Coast Guard will close the territory’s seaports at 8 a.m. Monday. However, special provisions will be made for individuals in need of critical medical needs and for life-sustaining medical supplies. Airlines are currently determining whether or not to suspend flights to the territory.
As of Sunday afternoon, flights are ongoing at the both the Cyril E. King Airport and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. According to Port Authority Director Ken Hobson, airlines will determine late Sunday whether flights will be suspended. |
