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As the territory’s recovery from Hurricane Earl continued Tuesday with a focus on electrical power restoration, clearing roadways in the territory and reopening public schools, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. and Lt. Governor Gregory R. Francis heard initial assessment reports from the leaders of the Water and Power Authority, Public Works and the Department of Education as well as information about the status of the territory’s seaports and airports, which both reopened today. De Jongh said that the Virgin Islands government will resume operations on Wednesday. All government employees are to report at their regularly scheduled times.
The governor imposed an 11p.m.–5a.m. curfew in the St. Thomas-St. John district given the relatively small percentage of power that has been restored. “St. Croix’s power restoration is moving ahead of the St. Thomas-St. John district at this time as the electrical distribution system was compromised more by fallen tree branches and snapped electrical poles,” de Jongh said. WAPA Director Hugo Hodge, Jr. and his staff updated the public regularly on efforts to restore power throughout the two island districts.
De Jongh said that based on assessments conducted by the Education Department on Tuesday, public schools will remain closed to students on Wednesday. However, all Education department employees, including teachers, maintenance and custodial staff and administrators, are asked to report for regular duty on Wednesday to begin preparations for the opening day of school.
Several schools were impacted by heavy rains and tropical storm force winds associated with Hurricane Earl and experienced considerable flooding in classrooms. Many campuses were littered with hurricane debris. “The Department of Education, with assistance from the Department of Public Works and other government agencies, will continue its clean-up efforts throughout the evening hours on Tuesday and throughout the day on Wednesday. While the opening of schools remains our number one priority, we must ensure that our children return to a safe and clean environment,” de Jongh said. The Department of Education, with help from several agencies, is moving expeditiously in this recovery effort and parents are asked for their continued patience. The Department of Education also announced the suspension of its lunch program and bus transportation until the reopening of public schools.
Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls said Tuesday that the department’s recovery focus is the reopening of the primary routes in the districts. “We are removing a large volume of fallen tree branches and limbs, downed power and utility lines and hurricane debris. Once the main arteries are cleared, the department will focus its efforts on reopening the secondary routes and side streets.”
Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Robert S. Mathes on Tuesday urged residents and visitors to avoid swimming in Virgin Islands beaches. “Until we are able to carry out water testing to determine the quality of the beach water, it is advisable to avoid swimming in the beaches of the territory.”
Internal Revenue Bureau Director Claudette Watson-Anderson advised the business community that the gross receipts tax deadline for July has been extended to Wednesday, September 1. “Due to inclement weather, the bureau’s offices were closed for business on Monday’s due date. Taxpayers will have two additional days to file and pay these taxes. “
Members of the VITEMA Territorial Damage Assessment Cadre are expected to commence the joint territorial-federal emergency management agency preliminary damage assessment of all infrastructure, facilities and contents so as to determine the damages that may have occurred during the hurricane. The cadre will meet at 9 am at the VITEMA St. Thomas headquarters; Emergency Operations Center on St. John and at Public Works’ Annas Hope conference room. Territorial departments and agencies are expected to have personnel available to identify all damages and to assist the teams in quantifying costs in support of federal disaster assistance requests. The teams are responsible for collating damage information, inclusive of pictures, contracts and invoices directly related Hurricane Earl in order to demonstrate the need for federal assistance.
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