Oct. 27, 2008 — V.I. Water and Power Authority crews are nearly finished restoring power on the western end of St. Croix, according to the latest government report on cleanup efforts following Hurricane Omar.
"Feeder 10, which serves the west end, is just about all in, with the exception of some small areas," said WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge Jr. "We are working to completely restore this area and then focus the rest of our efforts on the east and southeastern portions of the island."
WAPA crews will focus on restoring street lights once they have completely finished restoring power, he said.
Hurricane Omar also hit tourism hard. Cancellations and no shows after reservations had been made for hotel rooms on St. Croix cost an estimated $500,000, according to figures collected by the Department of Tourism and the Bureau of Economic Research. The storm caused no significant damage to any of the island's hotels, "though many suffered effects of beach erosion," said Assistant Tourism Commissioner Brad Nugent.
Efforts continue to deal with sunken and grounded vessels. Several were recently lifted from the water or reattached to moorings, according to Monday's government report.
"A total of 27 have been salvaged," said Carlos Farchette, director of enforcement for the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. "Twelve are either being removed by a private contractor or are being tagged by the government for removal. The vessels which remain to be removed are located at Salt River, the St. Croix Yacht Club and in Christiansted Harbor."
Officials expect to complete the cleanup of vessels along the Christiansted boardwalk by Nov. 3, he said.
Cleanup continues on other parts of St. Croix as well. Five contractors are working on debris collection from various communities, said Roberto Cintron, assistant commissioner of the Public Works Department. This week the contractors will be in the following locations: Tipperary, Tide Village and Boetzberg; Christiansted town; Work and Rest and Estate Humbug; Sion Farm; Little and La Grande Princes; William's Delight; Castle Burke; Estate Glynn; Mon Bijou; Grove Place and Estate Plessen; Estate Whim and Campo Rico; and along Route 74.
Crews are also clearing the final batch of hurricane debris from the major roadways across St. Croix, Cintron said.
"DPW has completed its assessment of the Christiansted boardwalk and will begin to solicit proposals for temporary repairs as soon as several grounded vessels are removed from where they came to rest on the boardwalk during Hurricane Omar," the report said.
The Bush Administration has yet to make a final decision about an application for a federal declaration of emergency in the territory, but people whose homes were seriously damaged by the storm may be eligible for help, the report said. The V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency "is prepared to take claims for persons in the community who suffered catastrophic damage in the hurricane which has rendered their primary residence uninhabitable," said VITEMA Director Mark A. Walters. Contact VITEMA at 774-2244 on St. Thomas-St. John and 773-2244 on St. Croix.
Innovative also released a statement Monday, announcing that 70 percent of cable-television service has been restored on St. Croix, 11 days after Hurricane Omar.
"While services have been restored to these areas, due to power fluctuations, customers may experience temporary interruption in services," the statement said. "There may also be some pockets in these areas that were restored that are still without service. Customers in these areas are encouraged to call back to make a report."
Crews have also been dispatched to major areas for telephone-service restoration in Estate Carlton, Strawberry Hill, Williams Delight, LaGrange, Estate Whim, and Work and Rest.
"Our crews have been working very hard to restore services to our customers, and customers have been very understanding and supportive," said Innovative Telephone President and CEO E. Clarke Garnett. "Members from the public have even stopped by our crews and offered water and juice."
For repairs, telephone and cable television customers can call 912 or 778-1742. Customers with Internet access may submit their reports via email. In the email, customers should include their telephone or cable TV account number, address, the problem they are experiencing, a contact number and brief directions.
PowerNet DSL Internet customers whose telephone service is restored and continue to experience problems may call 714-3700 to make a report.
Areas where cable television service has been restored are as follow:
Sion Farm
Golden Grove
Christiansted town
Red Brick
Basin Triangle
Alders Ville
Sections of Mary's Fancy
Water Gut
Queens Quarter
Tan Tan Terrace
Sections of Estate Richmond
Sections of Constitution Hill
Golden Rock
Harbor View
Commorant
Commorant Manor
Sections of Estate St. John
Sections of Catherines Rest
Sections of Hermon Hill
Mon Bijou
Sections of Sion Hill
Sections of Glynn
Royal Manor
Sections of Calquohoun
Sections of Work & Rest
Lagoon Street Project
Queen Street
King Street
Strand Street
Prince Street
Sections of Grove Place
Sections of Orange Grove East
St. C Condos
Tide Village
Mango Court
Sections of Boetzberg
Marienhoj
Sections of Sallys Fancy
Rattan
Little Princess Hill
Rattan Road
Five Corners
West Side of Princess
Hibiscus Beach
Princess Manor
All Condos in Princess
Annaly Farm (Upper Love)
Sections of Coble
Jealousy
West Calquohoun
North & West Upper Love
Corn Hill
Estate River
Granard
Some parts of Judith Fancy were also restored. Crews continue to work in the area to complete repairs there, according to the statement from Innovative.
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