St. Thomas and St. John have received heavy damage from Hurricane Irma. Many homes and businesses have lost their roofs on St. Thomas and St. John and flooding is severe, preliminary reports indicate. There are reports of some injuries, but no fatalities reported so far. Power is out and cell services is down in most locations. The BVI, St. Martin, Barbuda and other islands are reporting major damage, as is Puerto Rico. St. Croix, further to the South, had much lighter damage, with some poles down, flooding and minor damage.
Communication is extremely limited on St. Thomas. The USVI Hurricane Irma Alert Facebook page is filled with dozens and dozens of messages asking for information on relatives. Few replies are given.
The same Facebook page has links to where someone has set up a “VI Safe” Google Document page with a spreadsheet of people requesting help locating individuals; individuals who have been located; those who have not and notices of people who need help. There is a link to that VI Safe document in Related Links below.
As of 4 p.m. two injuries had been reported, both to emergency personnel. There have been few details added in the hours since. A collapsing roof at the Lima Company Fire Station in Annas Retreat caused minor injuries to an Emergency Medical Technician and a Fire Fighter. The roof has collapsed blocking in Fire and Rescue Vehicles, according to a statement from the USVI Emergency Operations Command Joint Information Center.
The Joint Information Center also reported that more than 12 inches of rain had already fallen and another 5 or more inches were anticipated.
In the report, Gov. Kenneth Mapp said many homes and businesses have lost their roofs, particularly in the North Eastern Quadrant of St. Thomas. Individuals have posted photos online of extensive damage in Tutu and heavy flood damage on the north side.
The V.I. Water and Power Authority, which had cut power intentionally to most of St. Thomas and St. John, has reportedly lost its generating capacity. Schneider Regional Medical Center Hospital is currently generating its own electricity. Damage to the roof has caused flooding which has forced the hospital to relocate all patients from the third and fourth floors to the second floor.
Two emergency shelters have been compromised. Reports indicate that at 4 p.m. water was rising at the E. Benjamin Oliver Elementary School Shelter and the Eldra Schulterbrandt Facility.
Neighboring BVI also had extensive damage. Residents have posted photos on social media of jumbled up boats in the harbor and damaged buildings in many locations.
WSTA AM 1340 had planned to stay on air through the storm but is apparently not broadcasting. However Delegate Stacey Plaskett reported on a Facebook comment that the UVI radio station WUVI is still broadcasting. A link to that station’s live stream is in the related links below.
President Donald Trump declared an emergency in an emergency exists in the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and ordered Federal assistance to supplement the response efforts of the territory due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Irma beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The President’s action authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts. FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. The notice says “debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.” Given the territory’s ongoing financial, fiscal and cash flow crisis, it is unclear how the territory will pay its 25 percent share.
FEMA Administrator Brock Long named William Vogel as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Plaskett issued a statement saying she is working to bring emergency federal dollars to the territory.
“The catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Irma demands massive amounts of aid to address the overwhelming needs of the countless victims who face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives,” Plaskett said.
“Hurricane Irma is a historic storm of incredible magnitude that has ravaged islands of the Caribbean including our Virgin Islands and the magnitude of this hurricane requires the full attention and support of the nation. People have lost their homes, vehicles, important personal possessions as well as businesses that can never be replaced. Many areas of our Virgin Islands have been decimated and are in great need of help,”she said.
She said that in the next days she will be sending specific requests for reimbursements and immediate support from the Army Corps of Engineers and other facilities of FEMA.
“Right now, thousands of people are reeling with trauma from of the most catastrophic storms ever to strike the Caribbean region. Hurricane Irma has toppled buildings and leveled many homes. Making the Virgin Islands whole will require a massive and coordinated effort spanning the course of many months, and indeed years,” Plaskett said.
“As we did following Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and most recently Harvey, Americans must once again come together with compassion and care. The President and my colleagues here in Congress have said that Virgin Islands will have everything it needs. Moving forward, I remain hopeful that President Trump and Congress will deliver on their words to support the people of the Virgin Islands.”
Plaskett also said on Wednesday that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price declared a public health emergency in the U.S. Virgin Islands Wednesday and “signed 1135 waivers that will provide additional flexibility to allow health care providers to meet emergency health needs.”
Any information on the Independent boatyard, Redhook and compass point marinas?
Boats in the yard fell over on each other. Boats in the water inside don’t look too bad.
Please send us info on boats in slips at independent boat us st thomas
Judging by the tutu pictures iby will be in bad shape. Reports that red hook was hit hard. Good luck.
May God bless all in St. Thomas hit by the storm.
Any news about the Hotel Secret Harbour, we have some friends there and no communication since yesterday noon.
Hi, my brother is missing from yesterday he was staying in a hotel at Saint John island and we don’t know nothing about him his name is Hector Martinez and we are trying to get any information we are worry If someone know a telephone number I can call please reply to this comment. Thank you I will appreciate God bless ??
Look on facebook check in.
What facebook check in are you referring to?
My son and his girlfriend live on st John and have not heard from them since Sunday and I can’t find out any info about the damage there
Everything east of Donkey Hill seems to be incommunicado. I have been communicating with people on both Sprint and AT&T elsewhere on Island, and received texts and calls all day yesterday except for about 3 hours. Downtown is trashed, the Northside seems to have not suffered the brunt. West side of Peterborg has a lot of roofs missing. Most power poles look to be up and lines in place above and around Magens.
USCG helo cruising around Magens right now. And I’m in Maine. So there are coms on island.
We have Family and Friends that live on St. John (Chocolate Hole & Cruz Bay)
and St. Thomas (near Morning Star). So far, we’ve gotten word that all are well on
St. Thomas (homes have serious damage, but our people are good).
No word out of St. John yet.
Does anyone know how bad the damage is there? I’m not hearing much about
St. John in the news (besides being generally grouped in with St. Thomas).
I have two family members missing in St. Thomas. They are Antonio Vega and Sheyla Blass. They live on 2421 Bonne Esperance. They are new in St. Thomas. If your family have information about them please tell me. They are from Puerto Rico. Thanks a lot.
Anyone have pictures of Red Hook after Irma?
Any info about The Anchorage Condos would be greatly appreciated. God help the people there.
I heard from my tenant. The condos are still standing but they are severely damaged. Windows blown out, water, etc. My tenant lost everything inside their condo.
Which building at the Anchorage is you tenant at?
Did you ever get info on status of the Anchorage Condos? We haven’t heard anything either.
Anchorage is pretty good, 35 windows gone but boarded up, roof intact, no running water and the generators are running in the morning and evening.
Any communication with St.Johns. I heard the is a Safe List. Could someone send me that link?
There are several FB pages for safe lists from St. John, best one is connections. Also stateside st johnians alliance for hurricane Irma,
do you know the names of the facebook pages?
Captain Dave from Flame is missing He rode out the storm at Independent Boat Yard.
Any information contact
Sueloerzel@yahoo.com
Heard from a friend that a number of boats in St. John sank. That’s all I know so far.
Any info about Mafolie Hill near Joseph Sibley School?
Waiting word from Rick Millson and family .
Remo Joseph, and Cecola Lee and others I hope all is okay, when you can please give me a call God bless you all.
Is CaptDave who left a msg at 10:30 am Thurs, Dave Loerzel from Flame?
Does anybody have any pictures of independent boat yard of the boats in the water
Did anybody see any boats in the water that are damaged I understand most of the damage was In the boat yard
Desiree
Haven’t heard but we have a boat in the slips and have been trying to get information ourselves. Would like to find out more if you know anything.
Please help us. I have two family members missing in St. Thomas. They are Antonio Vega and Sheyla Blass. They live on 2421 Bonne Esperance. They are new in St. Thomas.
Have any heard from families in the Bordeaux or Fortuna Area? I did not see anyone I know on the list and although they have Sprint as their cell phone carrier we are unable to contact them.
I have not spoke directly to my wife in beourdeux yet, but I do have some news. A video was posted to Facebook from the west end. Many houses lost their roofs and extensive damage every place. Saw the power lines we mostly intact from the short video. The cell tower is off line and will take a while to be fixed usually. The road was just opened late this morning from from what i understand. Local news story said no fatalities only minor injuries out west.
I have my parents in sorgenfri can’t get in contact with them can somebody update me of sorgenfri are people going down there are people stuck or trapped in their homes? Help!
I can’t speak for your parents at all, but will say this. For all the bad things that people on the rock do. They all come together when a storm hits. You can bet somebody will check on them. Cell towers and land lines will be out for a few days or more in other areas. 911 is directing people to redcross.org as of 2pm today.
Good luck and hope all is well.
Facebook group What’s Going on St. Thomas? has pictures of Cruz Bay. Not good, but Mongoose Junction held up well. Boats on the Cruz Bay beach in front of the bars.
our daughter & grandaughter & her boyfriend were staying at the Wedding House during the storm haven’t heard from them yet….we love you mom & Dad
I can’t get any news on Coral Bay 🙁
Any news of Caneel Bay?
I saw a pic post storm of Caneel. Minor damage only.
Thanks. There was a lot of wildlife there. Hope they found refuge. And the reef must be a mess.
Looking for my brother and sis-in-law on St. Thomas.
If anyone hears of Jason Lynch or Madge Fickes Lynch on St. Thomas, please notify me asap. Thank you and God bless. Prayers for healing.
My brother Peter Barmann lives at 6501 Redhook Plaza #32 in Redhook. Is there any way I could find out if he is ok???? I know he is on the 2nd floor of a 3 story bldg on top of a hill over looking Redhook Marina. I’m not sure if communications have been restored yet and we haven’t heard from him since Tuesday. If anyone knows anything about how he is or where he is we sure would appreciate an update. Thanks so much!!!
Hi Holly, actually the address you posted is down at the bottom of the hill it’s a mailing service. My name is Rainy and what I have heard second hand was that everyone on the mountain is ok. He rents from a man named Peter who is a friend of the lady this info came from. Sorry I can’t tell you anymore but I’m friends with Pete and a lot of people “on the hill” as it’s called. I talked to Pete the day before the hurricane asking if he felt ok as high up as he was and he said yes. I will see if I can Fried you so I can give you more info as it comes in. I’m on here as Rainy Nigg, you can do the same.
Dear All, Anyone has news on status of Gallows point resort at Saint John post Irma.
The airport is still closed. They hope to have it re-opened on Monday but, that depends on Jose. The Air Traffic Control Tower is destroyed along with many other navigation systems. There is no power and it may take weeks to have it restored.
I have a boat behind Tropicomm next to oasis marina. Can someone check on it and notify me of its condition?
I am helping a close friend locate her mother. Does anyone know the status of the residents in Estate Smith Bay?
Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas
How is Cinnamon Bay campground?
Does anyone have pictures of boats at dockA at Independent Boat Yard
If you find out anything could you let us know we are on dock C thank you
Looking for information regarding Lagoon Cat “ITS AMAZING”
Was anchored west of Tropical Marine.Thats about .25 miles west of Saga Haven Marina.
Thanks,
Bob
http://www.foxnews.com/us/slideshow/2017/09/09/u-s-virgin-islands-hit-hard-by-hurricane-irma.html#/slide/acacia-wallenburg–a-resident-of-saint-john-island–part-of-the-u-s–virgin-islands–took-photos-showing-the-devastation-after-hurricane-irma-
Here are some pics of st. John.
How R houses on Raphune Hill? M
Does anyone have any newer photos of the Independent Boat Yard hard area. Our boat was there. It’s a powerboat, so still hoping it’s ok.
I am also looking for pics of the yard. I saw a video shot from across the street that seemed to show a bunch of masts looking vertical in the back (where I am). The front looked a mess. I was hoping Independent might reach out to all of us by now.
Anyone know anything about Cabria Point condos?
Any news on A La Mer villa on Great Cruz Bay?
This message is for all asking about St. John. My wife is stuck on St. Thomas and we talk daily. The local word on Cruz Bay and the vast majority of STJ is total devistation. My wife was told that every part of the island was slammed. Said many houses were flatend many if not most of the trees are even down. Most of the large land mark trees are down also. So a safe bet whatever you have there will probably be damaged to some degree. Another storm is forcast to hit as a hurricane Wednesday.