Here’s WAPA Latest Post Hurricane Irma Power Restoration Update

After losing one of its linemen on Tuesday, and halting all Hurricane Irma-related power restoration work on Wednesday in honor of the lineman, who was identified as Jason Julius, 45, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority resumed work on Thursday territory-wide. Find the latest update below:

ELECTRIC SYSTEM —  ST. THOMAS – ST. JOHN

• Initial assessments of the transmission and distribution system in St. Thomas and St. John estimate damage at about 90% and that number may climb closer to 95%.
• WAPA remains in a clean-up mode and responding to requests for providing electricity to critical infrastructure facilities across the islands of St. Thomas & St. John. Once this work has been completed, one week from today at the earliest, and the final damage assessment is in, the Authority will develop a comprehensive restoration plan for the district. The plan cannot be completed until the assessment is finalized. 
•  As the restoration schedule is being developed, off island crews now under contract with WAPA will be mobilized and brought in to the territory to expedite the restoration of service to all customers.  Additional assistance has been offered from national associations that WAPA is a part of as well as crews from the Caribbean region. Additional orders of inventory will also be underway to the territory to augment the on island stock pile of equipment: from poles, transformers and electric cable.
• Damage assessment teams remain deployed surveying damage to the electric distribution system across the island district.
• The leadership team led by Executive Director Julio A. Rhymer, Sr. toured St. John Friday for a first-hand look at the electric and water systems infrastructure on that island.
•  Clean up and restoration crews were dispatched across the island Friday at the following locations: Sara Hill, Wintberg, Waterfront from the Windward Passage to International Plaza. A crew also continued work at restoring service to a key WAPA System Operation Center near Petrus Plaza.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM – ST. THOMAS – ST. JOHN

• Water crews worked to make repairs to a leaking 24” main on the waterfront in the vicinity of Royal Dane Mall. Customers east of the work area experienced a water service interruption on Friday. Work is expected to be completed by early evening.
• There are two days of emergency water storage on St. Thomas. The Seven Seas water production facility is on line and operating at full capacity. Water storage is rebuilding slowly.
•  On St. John, there are three days of emergency water storage. The distribution system is operating normally throughout Cruz Bay.
• Potable water customers at higher elevations may experience lower than usual pressure or no service at all until all pump stations have been restored with electricity.
• The potable water standpipe in Subbase will operate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM – ST. CROIX

• Restoration crews worked in the following locations on Friday: William’s Delight, Long Point, Richmond, Gallows Bay, New Street Christiansted, Beeston Hill, Herman Hill, Anna’s Hope, Frederiksted Town, La Grange, LaVallee, Little Fountain, St. John, Morning Star, La Grande Princesse and Little Princesse Hill.
• The following areas of St. Croix were restored on Thursday: Tipperary, Catherine’s Rest, Green Cay, Castle Coakley, Work & Rest, Constitution Hill, Sion Farm, Estate Rattan, Golden Grove, Little La Grange, Prosperity, Concordia, Good Hope and Hannah’s Rest. It is very important for residents in the neighborhoods where work has been completed to contact WAPA’s Emergency Call Center if they are still without power once crews have worked in their neighborhood. Call 340-773-0150 or email: [email protected].
• A revised restoration schedule was issued today for St. Croix.  While WAPA anticipates completing all restoration by September 21, 2017, some dates were adjusted to make up for time lost on Thursday and Friday morning due to the inclement weather that affected St. Croix.  The restoration schedule is published in local newspapers, on the WAPA web site and on social media. The WAPA web site is www.viwapa.vi.

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM – ST. CROIX

• There is a five-day supply of water storage on St. Croix, about 10 million gallons of water.
•  The St. Croix water distribution system is operating normally without any challenges.
•  The Concordia pump station, which was off on Thursday due to electrical challenges, has been restored. The pump station is functioning normally.