WAPA Promises To ‘Quickly Recover’ From Any Hurricane Danny Disruption

Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Hugo V. Hodge, Jr. today hosted a hurricane-preparedness meeting of the utility’s directors and heads of departments and divisions ahead of any potential effect on the territory by Hurricane Danny, according to a press release WAPA issued this evening.

“We are closely monitoring the hurricane’s path and given some of the projections which suggest the storm center coming in close proximity to St. Croix early next week, we are taking all precautions to ensure that all of our resources are in place and available in the event of an impact from the hurricane in either district,” Hodge said.

Hodge was briefed on the fuel supply in both island districts and the status of vehicles for both water distribution and the line departments. Line crews are on standby to travel to either district if necessary. To facilitate any required restoration, the WAPA has ample supplies: transformers and other line equipment. Hodge was told that on each island, the power plants have at least 16 days of fuel on hand.

“The plants are in good shape in terms of fuel supply,” Hodge said. Water distribution officials on St. Croix reported that potable water storage capacity is at just over 88% or about eight days storage. On St. Thomas, about sixteen days of storage exists while on St. John there is water storage of five to six days.

“We encourage our residents to remain vigilant of the storm’s path and to take steps to remain safe. WAPA will do its part to maintain the water and electrical systems and quickly recover from any adverse impact that we may suffer from Hurricane Danny,” Hodge said.

WAPA Communications is issuing general information such as feeder listings and information about remaining safe in the aftermath of a storm. Such information has already been provided to all of the customer service centers.

Telephone call centers will be established on St. Croix and St. Thomas on Friday and the public will be advised on numbers to contact WAPA in the event of service interruption caused by downed power lines as a result of the storm.

“I remind the public that all downed power lines are both energized and deadly: never touch a downed power line and never touch a person or object that is touching a power line,” Hodge said.