Commissioner Alicia Barnes strongly advises all boaters to begin to make necessary preparations for Tropical Storm Maria, according to a press release issued on Thursday by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. Boaters are advised to plan or relocate to the havens mentioned below. The DPNR advises boaters to use the three point mooring systems found in the “Survive a Hurricane” booklet, available at VITEMA.
St. Thomas-St. John District:
Safe Haven – Benner Bay, Mandahl Pond, Flamingo Bay
Hurricane Hole is under the Jurisdiction of the National Park Service, boaters must coordinate with the NPS on St. John for assigned mooring location, contact the Chief Ranger of Protection.
St. Croix District:
Safe Haven – Salt-River
1. Initial entry into the havens will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Enforcement officers will be available to assist boaters in maintaining an
organized entry and site location for vessels or to resolve difficult situations.
2. Boaters will return to regular moorings once new bulletin is issued:
However:
o Hurricane anchors can remain for the entire hurricane season.
o Vessels leaving anchors in the haven will use one mooring ball attached to hurricane anchor line marked with vessels registration number.
o During additional storms, vessels may return to initial location marked by mooring ball displaying vessels registration number.
o Vessels may not anchor in or obstruct navigational channel in Benner Bay or Salt-River.
o No vessels are allowed at Krause Lagoon or its channel on St. Croix. This area is designated a Homeland Security Zone.
3. Boaters should not remain on-board their vessels during a storm. Land –based shelters are available. Contact VITEMA.
3. After the hurricane season is “deemed over,” all hurricane anchors and gear must be removed.
4. Securing vessels to nearby trees will be done ONLY when necessary and
by utilizing proper chaffing material on all lines. Lines must be removed immediately after the storm.
5. Communication to boaters will be via press release or V.I. Radio on Marine Channel 16.
6. After the storm, owners of vessels which have sunk or washed ashore, must notify the Department of Planning and Natural Resources with the vessels location (GPS) and an estimated time when the owner will salvage his/her vessel. Vessel owners are responsible for removing wrecked vessels.
Moreover, DPNR advises all contractors, developers and home builders to immediately maintain and implement additional erosion and sediment control practices at all areas where property is cleared, graded, filled or otherwise disturbed.
Please take this opportunity to visually locate areas that may need additional erosion and sediment control measures. Measures include, but are not limited to the following:
· Preservation of natural vegetation
· Drainage Swales / Diversions
· Temporary and Permanent Seeding
· Soil Sealers / Binders
· Erosion Control Mats
· Soil Retaining Walls
· Construction Entrances / Exits
· Silt Fencing
Sediment Traps
· Mulches, Mats and Geotextiles
It is also advised that all construction materials and equipment be removed from sites or be properly secured. This includes all items likely to become airborne objects that may cause damage to your property or adjacent parcels.
For more information on Best Management Practices (BMPs), refer to the Virgin Islands Environmental Protection Handbook at http://www.dpnr.gov.vi/dep/pubs/index.htm.
Also note that as a result of the impending effects of Tropical Storm Maria, the Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) anticipates negative environmental impacts caused by storm-water runoff and rough seas. DPNR advises the public to refrain from swimming and bathing in coastal waters throughout the territory once the storm hits and until DPNR completes beach water quality testing following its passing.
DPNR further advises parents to keep children away from storm-water-impacted beaches as well as areas with manholes and storm-water flooding. There may be an elevated health risk to anyone swimming in storm-water-impacted areas as a result of increased concentrations of bacteria. All persons should also be aware that storm-water runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health; therefore, all persons should avoid areas of storm-water runoff (i.e. guts, puddles and drainage basins).
DPNR additionally reminds the public to take the following precautions to protect their drinking water resources in the event of a major storm or hurricane:
1) A two-week supply of potable water should be stored in a safe weatherproof place, preferably indoors. This water supply will provide water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. To figure out how much water you will need for a two (2) week supply: multiply the number of residents by 20 gallons per person per day and then multiply that number by 14 days. For example, a family of four should store 1120 gallons of water.
(Ex: 4 people x 20 gallons/person/day x 14 days = 1120 gallons)
2) An adequate supply of disinfecting agents [liquid chlorine containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite (i.e. Clorox), powdered chlorine (active ingredient calcium hypo chloride) or iodine should be on-hand and stored in a safe place. For emergency disinfection of drinking: add six ounces of regular household bleach per thousand gallons of drinking water.
For additional information regarding coastal water quality and drinking water, call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas.
