Danny Preparedness: Everything You Need To Know

This article will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Governor Kenneth Mapp gathered members of his cabinet at Government House on St. Croix Saturday morning for a press conference to make available information to the public in regards to Tropical Storm Danny.

The departments and agencies present at the event were Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, the Virgin Islands Police Department, Dept. of Tourism, Dept. of Health, Public Works and the Department of Human Services — all making available information useful to the public in preparation for Danny, a storm that is expected to weaken and impact the territory as a tropical depression late Monday.

Below are details made available at yesterday’s press conference and through press releases.

VITEMA: 

VITEMA Director Mona Barnes says the agency is prepared and that FEMA representatives on their way to the territory ready to support.

“The one thing I do want to say as the director of VITEMA is the people of the Virgin Islands, you are your first defense in responding to this incident,” Barnes said. “It is very important to prepare yourself, to have your family plan, to have your supply kits.” Barnes encouraged residents to place important documents in a safe location.

Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority

WMA says it will stop moving and collecting bins at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, and the Authority is asking residents to gather their household waste out of their homes by 7:00 a.m. “if possible” on Monday morning.

WMA is also asking residents to remove items that could become projectiles during the storm, including bulk waste, furniture and white goods (large electrical goods used domestically such as refrigerators and washing machines, typically white in color). Gas cylinders should be secured if not in use, the Authority said.

Drop Off Locations:

St. Thomas

In St. Thomas, WMA has setup what it’s calling a “temporary staging area” at the Cancryn Field, located next to the Addelita Cancryn Junior High School in Crown Bay.

Residents can also carry their waste to the scale house at the Bovoni landfill. The bins will be properly marked making known what is allowed to be disposed. Monitors and attendants will also be in place to help residents.

Municipal solid wastes (everyday waste items), household hazardous waste (which contains hazardous substances which may pose threat to the environment, wildlife, and human health) should not be brought to the aforementioned bins.

Electronic wastes will be accepted at the Bovoni landfill.

Sites will be opened on Sunday  from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Monday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., according to WMA.

St. Croix

The  Peter’s Rest convenience center accepts the waste materials that are currently not being accepted in St. Thomas, including electronic wastes such as fluorescent bulbs. Hours are 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sunday, and 6:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday.

St. John

Susannaberg Transfer Station will be opened to accept waste from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Sunday and 6:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Monday. Waste can also be deposited at the Water Island bin site.

Electronic wastes will be accepted at Susannaberg as well.

Landfills

Landfills will be closed at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. And WMA says it’s anticipating impact to the sewer system if rainfall is heavy, which may include sewage overflow. Residents are asked to steer clear of such areas.

Any concerns and questions for WMA, residents are asked to call: on St. Croix 340-712-4962, on St. Thomas at 340-175-9100 and on St. John at 340-774-2141.

Department of Public Works Sandbag Distribution

Public Works Commissioner Gustav James said DPW has a sandbag distribution program that provides up to ten sandbags per family, and up to 20 sandbags for businesses and other governmental agencies.

St. Croix locations:

Public Works compound located in Anna’s Hope.

Public Works compound in Frederiksted.

The Grove Place Fire Station.

Cotton Valley Fire Station on the east end of the island.

St. Thomas Locations: 

Public Works compound at Subbase

Bordeaux Fire Station

Estate Tutu Fire Station

St. John Locations:

Dept. Public Works compound in Sussanaberg

Cruz Bay Fire Station

Coral Bay Fire Station

VIPD

The VIPD will be “fully  mobilized once we reach watch mode,” Commissioner Delroy Richards said at yesterday’s press conference. The department will be active to protect lives, property and will preserve the peace, he added. If additional help is needed, the department will call on the governor to activate other peace officers and the Virgin Islands National Guard.

Department of Tourism

Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty revealed that as of Friday, the DOT’s USVI Update website was activated and is the “primary source of information” for tourists, hoteliers and the business community. See site here.

The commissioner asked the hotel community to provide assistance to the territory’s emergency assistance coordinators when they call for information in regards to the number of visitors currently in the territory. According to the commissioner, as of yesterday morning, there were 5,000 visitors in the territory: 2,500 on St. Thomas, 1,000 on St. Croix and 1,500 on St. John. She said there’s likely 20-30 percent additional tourists in the territory that are unaccounted for.

All major airlines are maintaining their schedules, except LIAT, which is primarily based on a southern Caribbean route, and have already disrupted flights on St. Thomas, and will impact St. Croix on Sunday.

Cruise ship cancellations:

• Liberty has cancelled its Monday St. Thomas arrival and has rescheduled for Friday.
• The Glory and The Oasis have cancelled Tuesday and have not rescheduled
• The Freedom continues to hold for Wednesday.
• Adventure of the Seas will have an unscheduled call on Friday.

For WICO cancellations, go here. Seaborne Airlines cancellations are here. And UVI school info can be gleaned here.

Human Services Senior Citizens Shelter Locations

Senior Citizen Centers are scheduled to be opened on Monday, according to Acting Commissioner Vivian Ebbesen-Fludd. Meals on Wheels will also remain on regular schedule.

St. Croix Shelter:

Herbert Grigg Home For the Aged

St. Thomas Shelter

Knud Hansen Complex

St. John Shelter

Julius E. Sprauve School

DPNR:

The DPNR advises boaters to use the three point mooring systems found in the “Survive a Hurricane” booklet, available at VITEMA.

St. Thomas 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

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.

Boaters will return to regular moorings once a new bulletin is issued.

However:

1. Hurricane anchors can remain for the entire Hurricane season.
2. Vessels leaving anchors in the haven will use one mooring ball attached to hurricane anchor line marked with vessels registration number.
3. During additional storms, vessels may return to initial location marked by mooring ball displaying vessels registration number.
4. Vessels may not anchor in or obstruct navigational channel in Benner Bay or Salt River.
5. No vessels are allowed at Krause Lagoon or its channel on St. Croix. This area is designated a Homeland Security Zone.
6.  Boaters should not remain aboard their vessels during a storm. Land-based shelters are available through VITEMA.
7. After the hurricane season is deemed over, all hurricane anchors and gear must be removed. 
8.  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.
9. Communication to boaters will be via press release or V.I. Radio on Marine channel 16.

 After the storm, owners of vessels which have sunk or washed ashore must notify the DPNR 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.

 To report any areas of concern, contact the Division of Environmental Enforcement at 774-3320 or 773-5774.

Dept. Of Agriculture Abattoir Closed on Monday  and Tuesday

Commissioner Designee Carlos Robles of the VI Department of Agriculture informed the farming community in a press release issued on Friday that due to the impending weather anticipated by the passing of Hurricane Danny, the St. Thomas and St. Croix Abattoir’s services will be canceled for Monday-Tuesday, August 24-25, 2015.

“All livestock farmers who were anticipating the utilization of the abattoir, please check with the Department of Agriculture in advance.  We anticipate the storm will pass us and we will be back in service Monday or Tuesday.  We hope that Danny will bring us the needed rain without any winds.” said Commissioner Robles.

For additional information, please contact the VI Department of Agriculture-St. Croix offices at 778-0997 or 778-0998.

All Airports Remain Open (VIPA)

VI Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe on Friday reminded the general public that all airports in the territory remain open.  Travelers are encouraged to call their airlines or the ferry/barge companies directly for scheduling information. 

Official closure and re-opening of the territory’s airports will be announced by the VI Port Authority.