Oct. 17, 2008 — Having been spared any major damage from Hurricane Omar, Virgin Islanders await word of rescheduling of meetings and events, and the reopening of ports, airports and businesses.
If you wish to get the word out about any of the above, please send your notice to visource@gmail.com.
– Hovensa’s port is open as of noon Friday. Vessels wishing to enter Hovensa need to contact Port Control Hovensa. The port of Christiansted including the Devcon International (WAPA) Channel and the Gallons Bay Terminal are open for operations as of 4:30 p.m. Friday. The Schooner Channel in Christiansted, St. Croix remains closed. All port operations shall remain suspended in this port pending port assessments.
— The ports on St. Thomas and St. John are reopened.
– All public schools are closed until Monday.
– All government employees in the St. Thomas-St. John district are expected to return to work Friday at normal reporting times. .
– On St. Croix, only essential government workers are to report Friday. Non-essential employees are not required to report to work on Friday.
— Ferry service between St. Thomas and St. John will be back on the normal schedule at 2 p.m. Thursday.
— All Department of Health employees are considered essential in disasters and should report to work after ensuring that family and property are secure, according to Health Commissioner Vivian I. Ebbesen-Fludd. Supervisors, program directors and coordinators have been authorized to reassign employees to positions to assist with the department's emergency support function role and to help with post-hurricane damage assessments.
Reopenings, Service Restorations
UVI
– all UVICELL classes for Saturday on both the St. Croix and St. Thomas Campuses are canceled, including the SAT Preparatory Program and the PRAXIS II Review Course. UVICELL will resume its normal class schedule starting Monday.
-– classes on both campuses are suspended until Monday. Both University libraries will be open for service with regular hours beginning Saturday. St. Croix students may return the residence halls on Sunday after 3 p.m.. St. Thomas resident students may return Friday after noon.All essential personnel should report to work based on normal reporting hours. All non-essential UVI employees (faculty and staff) on St. Thomas should report to work on Friday based on normal reporting times. All non-essential UVI employees (faculty and staff) on St. Croix should report to work Friday beginning at noon. St. Croix employees are asked to utilize the Research & Extension Center parking lot.
Airports
— Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix officially reopened at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
— Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas reopened at 7:22 a.m. Thursday.
The V.I. Port Authority announced the reopenings around 11:30 a.m., saying both airport terminals were ready to begin accepting travelers.
On St. Thomas, American Airlines reported they will operate a 5:45 p.m. departure to San Juan, and the 8:05 p.m. arrival from Miami. American Airlines stated that by noon staff would be in place for normal business.
The public should contact airlines directly for flight arrivals and departures.
Seaports
– Hovensa’s port is open as of noon Friday. Vessels wishing to enter Hovensa need to contact Port Control Hovensa. The port of Christiansted including the Devcon International (WAPA) Channel and the Gallons Bay Terminal are open for operations as of 4:30 p.m. Friday. The Schooner Channel in Christiansted, St. Croix remains closed. All port operations shall remain suspended in this port pending port assessments.
— The ports on St. Thomas and St. John are reopened.
– VI SeaTrans service will resume this weekend as follows:
Saturday, 18 October:
Dep. St. Thomas: 8:45a (arrv STX 10:15a)
Dep. St. Croix: 11:00a (arrv STT 12:30p)
Dep. St. Thomas: 5:30p (arrive STX 7:00p)
Sunday, 19 October:
Dep. St. Croix: 9:00a (arrive STT 10:30a)
Dep. St. Thomas: 5:30p (arrive STX 7:00p)
Monday, 20 October:
Dep. St. Croix: 7:30a (arrive STT 9:00a)
Dep. St. Thomas: 6:00p (arrive STX 7:30p)
Tuesday, 21 October:
Dep. St. Croix: 7:30a (arrive STT 9:00a)
Thursday, 23 October:
Dep. St. Thomas: 6:00p (arrive STX 7:30p)
Please call for further information 340-776-5494.
Schools
— all public schools remain closed Thursday
— Antilles School closed Wednesday and Thursday will reopen Friday
Businesses
– Divi Carina Bay Casino will close at 11 p.m. Friday and will reopen for business at 8 a.m.Saturday. Employees are requested to call the casino’s hurricane hotline for regular updates.
Those traveling to the casino are urged to take the East End Road past Cheeseburgers and Chenay Bay and to drive with extreme caution.
– all FirstBank offices on St. Croix will close at 2 p.m. Friday
– Choice Communications’ St. Thomas business office will be open Friday. St. Croix office will be closed on both Friday and Saturday, and will re-open for business on Monday.
— First Bank, First Express and First Insurance offices throughout the U.S. and British Virgin Islands will remain closed Thursday and will reopen as usual on Friday. All ATM networks will remain functional where power is available.
— All ScotiaBank branches remain closed Thursday to reopen for business as usual on Friday. Most ATMs are up and running.
— The offices of Theodore Tunick and Company on St. Thomas and St. John will remain open until noon Wednesday and reopen as soon as conditions allow on Thursday.
Public Notices
– St. Thomas Historical Trust will hold its rescheduled Annual Membership Meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 at the Holiday Inn.
— the St. Croix Elections Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday is postponed
— Oct. 19 meeting for the Friends of Denmark has been rescheduled for Oct. 25
— the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center shelter and flea market facilities are closed until further notice. Please remember your pets and bring them inside. Do not leave dogs tied in areas prone to flooding. Please make sure that pets have enough food and water and that pet medicines are secured. For more on what to do with and for your pets during a disaster click here.
