Governor Kenneth Mapp on Tuesday extended the state of emergency through June 2, according to Government House. The governor’s justification for the extension remained the same as with previous extensions: The U.S.V.I. in September was ravaged by two Category 5 hurricanes and the territory is still in emergency mode.
The initial state of emergency was declared effective on September 5, 2017 at 12:01 a.m., due to the projected path of Hurricane Irma, and has been renewed in the past, with the last known extension coming in April. The state of emergency, along with all terms previously declared and ordered, will continue in effect through June 2, unless earlier lifted or extended by his orders, Mr. Mapp proclaimed in an official order.
A state of emergency empowers a government to perform actions that it would normally not be allowed to. A government can declare a state of emergency during a disaster, civil unrest, or armed conflict. In September 2016, Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter, then-acting governor, declared a state of emergency following a surge in gun violence that was rocking St. Croix in particular.
“As the territory of the Virgin Islands of the United States has suffered an emergency and a major disaster due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the need for a state of emergency continues to exist in the territory,” the governor wrote in his proclamation.
With the USVI still in active recovery mode, the new declaration allows for the current order of operations to continue.
Tags: governor kenneth mapp, hurricanes, june 2018, state of emergency, usvi
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