USVI government makes final preparations for Hurricane Omar
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| Published on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 |
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By Susan Mann
Caribbean Net News US Virgin Islands Correspondent
Email: susan@caribbeanentnews.com
ST THOMAS, USVI: Based on the projected path of Hurricane Omar, Governor John deJongh announced several decisions on Tuesday night as the US Virgin Islands government continued its final preparations for the anticipated impact on the Territory of either a strong tropical storm or a hurricane on Wednesday and Thursday.
At 8:00 pm Tuesday, Omar was located at 14.1 degrees north, 68.3 degrees west or about 342 miles southwest of St. Croix. A hurricane watch, a tropical storm warning and a flash flood watch are in effect for all of the US Virgin Islands. Tropical storm force winds are expected to begin affecting the Territory during Wednesday afternoon and evening.
By midnight, hurricane force winds are projected to affect St. Croix and last through early Thursday morning. Tropical storm force winds with gusts to just under hurricane force will affect St. Thomas and St. John Wednesday evening.
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USVI Governor John
deJongh, Jr. Photo:
Susan Mann |
“Based on the latest weather information and the projected track of Tropical Storm Omar, I have decided that public schools will be closed on Wednesday for students, faculty and staff. Government workers will report at their regular time and non-essential employees will be dismissed at 10 a.m. territory-wide,” deJongh said.
The Governor said that based on guidance from the National Hurricane Center which suggests that tropical storm force winds will be felt beginning tomorrow evening; he will impose a 6 p.m. curfew in both island districts on Wednesday.
Commissioner of Police James Mc Call said once the curfew is imposed only persons with valid curfew passes and on official government business will be allowed on the streets.
“We will vigorously enforce this curfew as it is necessary that we clear the streets and avoid persons becoming injured by the effects of a tropical storm.” McCall also asked that all peace officers report to meetings in both St. Thomas and St. Croix at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The curfews will be strictly enforced and violators face the possibility of prosecution under existing laws.
DeJongh signed a State of Emergency proclamation on Tuesday night which not only authorizes a curfew but deputizes all territorial peace officers as law enforcement officers to augment the manpower strength of the US Virgin Islands Police Department.
In addition, the proclamation authorizes and directs the Commissioner of Licensing and Consumer Affairs to impose a price freeze and restricted sales order in a move to protect consumers of the four islands during the period of emergency.
The governor has also signed an order placing the US Virgin Islands National Guard into territorial active military service. “This order will allow the Adjutant General to mobilize any units of the VING necessary to restore public order and to guarantee the safety of life and property, deJongh said.
The USVI Governor spent much of Tuesday in discussions with FEMA Director David Paulison, members of a FEMA advance team and local officials discussing the level of preparedness in the territory and aligning any relief efforts that may become necessary in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Omar.
A pre-landfall declaration was signed which would facilitate immediate federal assistance to the territory should such relief become necessary in the storm’s aftermath. “As a territory, we have experienced these storms before and have fared well. We are a resilient community. I encourage everyone to continue to pray that our islands may be spared the wrath of this strengthening storm system.”
A number of government agencies are fully engaged in the preparation of the territory. VITEMA operations centers have been fully functional since Monday tracking the storm system and coordinating the response of the Virgin Islands Government.
The Department of Human Services in conjunction with the American Red Cross are preparing for an opening of shelters on all islands at 12 noon Wednesday.
“We will open the St. Croix Educational Complex, the Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas and the Bethany Moravian Church on St. John,” said DHS Commissioner Chris Finch.
Finch emphasized that all persons coming to shelters should bring enough food which does not require cooking for their families for at least 24 hours. Diapers, medicines and any other personal items needed should be brought to the shelter as well as toys or games to entertain your young children.
The Public Works Department is distributing sandbags on each island. On St. Croix, the distribution points are the Public Works Department in Annas Hope, the Cotton Valley Fire Station, the Grove Place Fire Station and the entrance of Estate Concordia.
On St. Thomas, sandbags are being distributed at the PWD motor pool and on St. John at the VITEMA office in Susannaberg. Planning and Natural Resources informs the boating community that safe havens have been established.
On St. Croix: Salt River and Princess Bay. Eighteen moorings are available. On St. Thomas, the safe havens are Benner Bay and Flamingo Bay.
On St. John, the safe havens are Hurricane Hole and Borck Bay. St. John boaters must first obtain authorization from the National Park Service before utilizing the moorings on St. John.
Ferry service among the islands was suspended at 10:00 pm Tuesday night. The last cruise ship was also expected to leave St. Thomas at 6:30 pm Tuesday. Vessels weighing 1000 tons or more have been prohibited from mooring in the territory’s harbors.
Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson Doty said the USVI tourism web site was being updated to reflect the possible impact of the potential hurricane on visitor plans, including scheduled flights.
Doty said, “There are currently 1000 visitors on St. Thomas, 500 on St. John and 500 on St. Croix.”
The Commissioner went on to say that shelter had been identified on each island, should island guests need to re-locate for safety reasons.
Bureau of Internal Revenue Director Gizette Thomas said Tuesday night that the October 15 filing date for all taxpayers has been extended to Monday, October 20.
Damage assessment teams comprised of local and federal officials will be deployed in the aftermath of the storm to assess damage and determine the most immediate needs of the territory.
“We will continue to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Omar and provide updates to the public as we approach the estimated time of impact on the territory,” deJongh said. | | | | Reads : 2514 | | | |
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