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The Virgin Islands Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) has completed the initial damage assessment of the Territory’s infrastructure, which includes public facilities, and currently, the damages are moderate.
“We are still receiving damage reports, however, it appears the Territory may not be requesting a Presidential disaster declaration,” Lewis said. “We had a number of poles down, widespread power outages and storm-related debris on most roads, but for now, it is not enough to meet FEMA’s threshold for a disaster declaration.”
As of Tuesday, all Feeders were re-energized territorywide with only a few isolated areas to be addressed, and all roads are passable.
VITEMA thanks the Virgin Islands community for staying informed and for heeding the advisories issued for Tropical Storm Irene. On Monday, the VI Police Department reported that there were no curfew violations during the curfew imposed by Gov. John P. de Jongh Jr., and the most of the population waited for an update on the lifting of the curfew, the assessment of road conditions and the status of government operations, before venturing out.
Everyone is encouraged to continue their preparedness efforts to ensure they are ready, as the Territory is still in the peak of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
VITEMA has received additional updates on the ongoing recovery efforts.
Seaports
At about 3:50 p.m. today, the US Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Captain of the Port, reopened the Gallows Bay Dock at Christiansted and the Ann Abramson Pier in Frederiksted. Since Monday, Coast Guard Port Assessment Teams were working to reconstitute the remaining St. Croix ports to safely reopen the navigable waterways. Ports at St. Thomas, St. John, and Lime Tree Bay in St. Croix, reopened on Monday morning following the passage of Tropical Storm Irene.
The Virgin Islands may resume all port and maritime operations, including waterfront facility and vessel transits, subject to prudent seamanship and safe work practices. Ferry services between St. Thomas and St. John resumed as of Monday afternoon.
WAPA
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) issued a statement today that is experiencing a water shortage that is affecting its St. Thomas customers and has implemented a St. Thomas water conservation schedule to address existing water shortages. The water shortage is due to mechanical problems in the power plant, on Friday. Before repairs were completed, it was necessary to secure steam turbine Unit 11 and boiler unit 21, when Tropical Storm Irene passed. WAPA was unable to complete repairs to those units and to sustain water production. As a result, water storage is at a critically low level.
While WAPA was able to provide, some customers at lower lying areas with water through gravity feed, those at higher elevations will experience water service interruptions. On Tuesday, technicians were complete the repairs in order to increase storage. According to WAPA, water pumping can resume by tonight, which will allow the utility to charge and pressurize its system.
The public is urged to monitor local radio and TV for updated information from
WAPA.
Roads
All of the major roadways across the Territory have been cleared of debris and only a few side roads, for instance where large trees have fallen, remain to be addressed. The Department of Public Works has resumed its VITRAN bus transportation services
territorywide.
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Management Assessment Teams (IMAT) that were deployed to the Territory for Tropical Storm Irene are redeploying to the US mainland in preparation for the possible storm impact to states along the east coast and to Puerto Rico for ongoing recovery operations. At 5 p.m., Irene was a category 1 hurricane packing maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour and moving west northwest at 9 miles per hour.
“We thank our federal partner, FEMA, for always being ready when we call on them for assistance,” Lewis said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they prepare to provide support for Hurricane Irene.”
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