Government offices are closed, school classes canceled, price gouging warnings are in effect and boaters are cautioned to seek safe havens for their vessels as Hurricane Jose moves closer to the Virgin Islands.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull announced Tuesday afternoon that all government offices and schools would be closed Wednesday. Essential government employees are expected to report to work.
Turnbull also instituted a price freeze on food, water, beverages, health and medical supplies, rents, construction materials and services, clothing, furnishings and all other essential goods and services.
The University of the Virgin Islands has canceled classes for Wednesday and until further notice, but employees are asked to come in and secure their work areas.
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources issued a warning to boaters to seek shelter in any of the available safe havens around the islands. Boaters are also warned not to stay on their vessels during the storm.
DPNR Commissioner Dean Plaskett said boaters need to file a hurricane float plan. He said officers would be available to assist boaters.
In keeping with the warning theme, Andrew Rutnik, commissioner of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, said anyone appearing to price gouge during the price freeze would be subject to fines and imprisonment. Rutnik asked consumers to report any incidents of gouging and to save receipts from all purchases.
"It is imperative that consumers save their receipts so that a thorough investigation of price gouging" can be done, he said.
As of 8 p.m. Jose, the 10th named storm of the season, was located at 15.4 north longitude and 59.6 west latitude, 405 miles southeast of St. Thomas. The storm was packing winds of 75 mph with higher gusts, and was expected to gain strength before reaching the Virgin Islands.
For more details on Jose's approach click here .
