With Tropical Storm Irene’s winds and rains beginning to lash the U.S. Virgin Islands, Gov. John deJongh Jr. late Sunday afternoon announced a curfew of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on St. Croix and 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on St. Thomas and St. John.
“Given the anticipated effects from tropical storm Irene on the territory later today, I have declared a state of emergency in the Virgin Islands,” the governor said in a Sunday afternoon press release.
He encouraged residents to pay attention to the updates because the storm’s projections are constantly changing.
“It is important that we heed and respect the warnings so that we can effectively protect life and property. This is of great importance during the hurricane season,” deJongh said.
The Human Services Department and the American Red Cross has opened the St. Croix Education Complex shelter as of 3 p.m. The Sugar Estate Head Start Center shelter on St. Thomas and the Julius Sprauve School on St. John will open at 6:30 p.m. People seeking shelter should bring enough water for three days – a gallon per person per day – as well as a blanket and pillow and any needed medication or medical equipment. Parents with children should bring along games and snacks and those with babies should ensure they have diapers, baby food and formula.
The territory remains on both a tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch. A hurricane watch is in effect for the territory’s coastal waters.
At 2 p.m., the center of the tropical storm was about 70 miles east southeast of St. Croix near 17.5 degrees north latitude and 63.7 degrees west longitude. Top sustained winds are at 50 miles per hour and the tropical storm is moving to the west northwest at 18 miles per hour. With this advisory, the storm has once again slowed its forward speed.
On the forecast track, Tropical Storm Irene will pass either over or near the Virgin Islands Sunday. With tropical storm force winds extending out to 150 miles north of the center, the entire territory will feel the effects of sustained tropical storm force winds.
Ernesto Morales, a meteorologist at the National Weather Center in San Juan, said at 4:15 p.m. that the center of Tropical Storm Irene was about 20 miles east of St. Croix, with the storm passing over or very close by at around 6 p.m. He expects St. Croix to get winds of 50 mph with gusts to 65.
St. Thomas and St. John will get winds of 40 to 45 mph with gusts to 50 mph. The center will be about 40 miles south of those two islands around 6 p.m.
Rainfall will total four to seven inches with 10 inches in isolated areas.
The V.I. Water and Power Authority received reports of a pole down at the Santa Maria Beach on the western end of St. Thomas. On St. Croix, the authority has received reports of trees down on the west end of the island which caused power outages on Feeder Number 10. WAPA has dispatched crews to these areas to make repairs.
The V.I. Waste Management Authority advised residents to avoid areas where manholes are known to overflow. The current condition of the sewer lines allows for the inflow and infiltration of storm water into the sewer system and may exceed the pumping capacity at various pump stations which carry the flow from residential areas to the Wastewater Treatment Plants. Until the rains and the run-off subside, the sewer collection system will continue to be impacted.
On St. Croix, the U.S. Coast Guard closed the ports to all incoming and outgoing vessel traffic until further notice. On St. Thomas and St. John, ports have closed to inbound and outbound traffic for vessels greater than 200 gross tons. Vessels greater than 200 gross tons currently in port should get under way at this time while all other vessels remaining in port are to take appropriate precautionary measures. All intra-island ferries in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands using these ports must cease operations and be secured at their designated mooring facility.
Airports on both St. Croix and St. Thomas are scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Sunday. All day flights into St. Croix and St. Thomas have been cancelled. Commuter airlines ceased operations earlier Sunday morning. As a result of the storm, Cape Air, Liat, Seaborne, and Sea Flight have suspended flights to and from the territory. Additionally, American Airlines, US Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Continental Airlines are operating flights until 5 p.m., but this may change based on weather conditions. Evening flights on American Airlines to both St. Croix and St. Thomas from Miami have been cancelled.
The Planning and Natural Resources Department is advising boaters not to remain on board their vessels during a storm and to make necessary preparations for Tropical Storm Irene. Boaters are advised to relocate to the safe havens. On St. Thomas the safe havens are at Benner Bay, Mandahl Pond, and Flamingo Bay. On St. John the safe haven is Hurricane Hole in V.I. Coral Reef National Monument. On St. Croix the safe haven is at Salt River.
The U.S. Coast Guard is advising owners and operators of recreational vessels to follow the small craft advisories from the National Weather Service, and take the necessary measures to safeguard their vessels.
Approximately 3,600 tourists are in the Virgin Islands. The Tourism Department has activated its emergency information website, www.usviupdate.com, and has notified the V.I. Hotel and Tourism Association to activate its storm response plans. Of the two ships scheduled to dock at St. Thomas on Monday, only one cruise ship, Carnival’s Miracle, has cancelled its call. The Royal Caribbean’s Serenade is expected to call on St. Thomas as long as conditions allow. No ships are scheduled to dock at St. Croix. Visitors are encouraged to check with their airlines regarding timing for resumption of service and plans to re-route passengers.
