With the arrival of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, VITEMA will sponsor an All Hazards Preparedness Expo Wednesday and Thursday on St. Croix and St. Thomas, respectively.
The Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted an above-normal season, with 12 to 18 named storms, six to 10 of which could become hurricanes, and three to six of which could become major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or faster.
The seasonal average is 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
The beginning of the season seems an apt time for residents to make sure they’re prepared no matter what type of hazard occurs, said VITEMA Director Elton Lewis.
“The theme of this year’s expo is ‘Empowering the Community,’ which reflects both the public and private sector’s collective mission of arming our community with information necessary to properly prepare for and respond to disasters … VITEMA is working to ensure that when disaster strikes, together we are prepared for it and resilient enough to survive it.”
On both days, VITEMA will provide information on the Territory’s Tsunami Warning Siren Installation project, brochures on its Community Emergency Response Team training, and be available to assist individuals with registering for V.I. Alert, the territory’s mass alert and notification system.
Local and federal government agencies, along with voluntary organizations and private sector vendors, will participate in the annual event. Among those taking part are the Department of Human Services, which has oversight of shelters; the V.I. Water and Power Authority; the V.I. Police Department; the American Red Cross; Search and Rescue; the V.I. National Guard, NOAA; and Home Depot.
The expo will be held both days from 4 to 9 p.m.; on Thursday at the Sunny Isles Shopping Center’s Amphitheater, and Friday at the Tutu Park Mall.
Both events will include remarks from key local and federal government officials, including Lynn Canton, FEMA Region II Administrator; and Rafael Mojica, National Weather Service senior meteorologist.
Also Tuesday, WAPA announced it will maintain a state of readiness during hurricane season 2011 and provided a list of tips for safely dealing with power problems during the storms.
According to WAPA’s Executive Director Hugo Hodge Jr., all WAPA employees are designated “essential” during hurricane season and will report to work on emergency schedules after the storm. If needed, recovery support from off-island utility crews will be available.
Residents should stay away from all fallen poles and lines, assume they are dangerous, and immediately report the problem, according to WAPA. To protect appliances, turn off circuit breakers, leaving just one on to power a small lamp as an indicator that electricity is restored.
Customers should locate and mark their potable water safety valves, turn off water in the event a pipe breaks, and immediately report damage. Check that all faucets are closed to prevent water loss or flooding when service is restored.
Other advice from the utility includes:
• Have the weatherhead (the electric service point) on a house or building inspected by a licensed electrician to secure the connection before the storm or to make any necessary repairs after a storm. WAPA will be unable to connect a damaged weatherhead to the feeder.
• Cut weak tree limbs, trim shrubs within reach, and call WAPA to clear trees from power lines in order to maintain service reliability.
• As an alternative to battery-operated equipment, consider purchasing solar-powered flashlights and fans for comfort, and solar radios to stay informed about repair schedules or water boiling advisories.
• Net metering customers should protect their solar panels, wind turbines, and hardware according to manufacturers’ recommendations.
• Never connect a portable generator directly to a household wiring system or connect a backup power system without a transfer switch that disconnects the system from WAPA’s supply. This is to protect field crews from electrocution while working on the lines.
• Check that refrigerator seals are tight to prevent cool air from seeping out while the power is out and keep the doors closed. Freeze gallon water jugs and place them in the refrigerator to keep main compartment cool. Use crumpled newspaper, bath towels or blankets to insulate freezers and keep foods cold.
Gregory L. Rhymer, chief operating officer, said WAPA will maintain services as long as possible and will not turn off power during a storm unless there is potential damage to life or equipment.
The “three strike rule” will apply. If a feeder loses service, control room operators will attempt to restore the feeder three times unless conditions in the field dictate otherwise. If unsuccessful, the feeder will remain without service until the storm passes and damage assessments are completed.
Crews will initially restore lines that deliver power to public services and to the most populated areas in the shortest amount of time, then go neighborhood to neighborhood and door to door, until all customers have electric and water services.
Customers can report power or water problems on St. Croix to 773-0150 or 773-2250 and then press 7; on St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island, call 774-1424 or 774-3552 and then press 4.
Outages can also be reported on the WAPA website. Electric feeder lists can be found at www.viwapa.vi and copies are available in WAPA’s business offices.
Further information on preparedness is available online by visiting www.VITEMA.gov or calling the agency at 773-2244 on St. Croix, 774-2244 on St. Thomas, or 776-6444 on St. John.
