August 20, 2024

U.S. Virgin Islands Restoration Efforts Following Tropical Storm Ernesto

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Six days after Tropical Storm Ernesto, Communications Director Richard Motta Jr., VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen, and key agencies provided an essential update at Government House on St. Croix.

Director Motta began the briefing by emphasizing the importance of taking preparedness tips seriously in order to save lives within the community. The professionals working tirelessly behind the scenes alongside government employees provide accurate information based on data with a shared goal of protecting our community’s well-being, he said.

Director Jaschen joined Motta and reported weather conditions in the Territory. He noted that drier air from the Saharan air layer will limit shower activity until early Tuesday, when it will clear out; however, a tropical wave could bring unstable weather by midweek.

Jaschen addressed maritime concerns post-storm; 24 displaced boats have been identified, with ten more still awaiting assessment by Planning and Natural Resources teams. Restoration efforts for airports, seaports, hospitals, and dialysis centers are actively progressing across all islands.

Jaschen announced that, based on community feedback, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (VIWMA) will accept green waste from commercial haulers on specified dates until August 22, 2024.

Jaschen provided data from the Territory’s mobile service providers restoration efforts:

• VIYA: 3 out of 51 sites down, full restoration was expected by August 19.
• Liberty: Operating at 100%.
• FirstNet: Fully operational.
Don Gregoire, Territorial Incident Commander at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, joined Jaschen and Motta to provide details on the power restoration efforts, which have neared 98% restoration territory-wide. St. Croix is 99% restored, St. Thomas is 96% restored, and St. John is 97% restored, Gregoire said.

Gregoire identified WAPA’s primary restoration focus as the following areas:
St. Thomas: Feeders 6A, 7A, and 6B, including Lerkenlund, St. Peter Mountain Rd, Hull Bay, Estate Pearl, and Frenchtown. On St. John, Chocolate Hole, and Fish Bay. And on St. Croix, Feeder 8B, Feeder 10B, Good Hope, and the Rainforest.

Gregoire went on to say the restoration efforts are nearing a conclusion. Customers are asked to report isolated outages to WAPA’s customer service team, as the Call Center is now closed. Customer Service is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (340) 773-2250 or (340) 774-3552—Option 5 or via email at [email protected].

Gregoire emphasized that WAPA’s goal is to be as transparent and forthcoming as possible, even as they navigate the uncertainties on timing that comes with restoration efforts. He said WAPA’s teams are focused on restoring power as quickly and safely as possible and will continue to keep the community informed every step of the way.

Updates also came from the Director of Communications for the Department of Human Services, Ryan Nugent. Nugent provided an update specifically for households enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Nugent informed the community that the Department of Human Services is open and reported that on St. Croix, the Mars Hills location is operating on generator. On St. Thomas the Knud Hansen complex has completed a deep cleaning necessitated by water encroachment.

The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure, and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government, and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov.