Clear yards of debris, stock up on canned goods and water, batten down and don’t assume the storm heading this way Tuesday evening will be harmless, government agencies are advising.
Just because it is not yet a tropical storm, doesn’t mean that residents shouldn’t take precautions, officials added.
The V.I. Waste Management Authority is asking all residents to dispose of all household waste at the disposal bin sites throughout the islands no later than 10 a.m. Tuesday, so they can be emptied before foul weather sets in. WMA plans to remove public waste receptacles from the streets in downtown Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted and Frederiksted by noon Tuesday, according to a WMA statement.
WMA urges residents to secure anything around their homes that could become airborne during a severe storm. Only household waste and bagged yard waste will be picked up at the curbside for those households that normally receive house-to-house collection services. All other household waste can be taken to the bin sites and debris and bulk waste can be taken directly to the landfills or transfer station.
Weather permitting, bin sites will be reopened Wednesday. Tree branches and other yard waste is NOT to be disposed of at the bin sites, and residents should take it to the landfills and transfer station. If the storm creates a large enough mess to require it, debris-management sites will be identified and opened to accept yard waste. WMA asks reader to stay tuned for announcements for the opening of these debris management sites, if they prove necessary.
Appliances, such as refrigerators or stoves, bulk waste, like bedding and furniture, yard waste, and construction and demolition debris, and other hazardous and nonhousehold waste is not accepted at the bin sites and must be taken directly to the landfills or transfer station.
Businesses must take their waste directly to the landfill or transfer station by a licensed and permitted waste hauler. Any business found utilizing a public bin site for disposal of commercial waste will be cited.
Both Anguilla Landfill on St. Croix and St. Thomas’ Bovoni Landfill will be open until 6 p.m. Monday then close early, at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Susannaberg Transfer Station on St. John will close at its regular time of 5 p.m. Monday, and 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The landfills and transfer station will re-open for normal operations after the passage of the storm system. Please listen to local radio stations for updated information.
To contact your respective landfill or transfer station for more information, call the Anguilla Landfill 778-1231, Bovoni Landfill 775-3665, and the Susannaberg Transfer Station 776-6346.
WMA expects the sewer collection system may experience a large inflow of storm water that may cause overflows in certain areas throughout the territory. Residents are asked to avoid known areas where manhole overflows occur and to proceed through standing water with extreme caution.
Residents are asked report any overflows to the VIWMA at our Customer Service Line at 713-1962 or 774-4139. You can also Report-A-Problem on their website www.viwma.org.
WAPA Personnel Poised to Respond
Eyeing the threats a storm would pose to its water and electricity production, the V.I. Water and Power Authority has activated its internal and external emergency plans, according to WAPA.
All employees are designated “essential” and will report to work on normal or assigned schedules to assist in electric and water service restoration if WAPA sustains damage to its facilities, WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge Jr. said in a statement.
WAPA’s emergency response teams have met and determined that WAPA has adequate fuel and water storage in the St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island districts.
Also, damage-assessment teams will be on alert to immediately address problems in the field once the storm has passed, and emergency radio and telephone systems have been checked and determined operational.
Emergency call center staff will take information from customers whose utility services have been interrupted. St. Croix customers can call 773-0150, or 773-2250 and then press 7 or 3056 to report water or power problems.
To report outages on St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island, customers can call 774-1424, or 774-3552 and then press 4 or 2211 for a dispatcher. Customers should give accurate information including clear directions to the home or business with the problem.
Repeated calls to the emergency numbers will tie up the lines, so customers are urged to be patient as line crews travel to their area. Customers can also hear updated information by dialing 774-3552 in the St. Thomas district or 773-2250 on St. Croix and pressing no. 6 for a WAPA special message.
If necessary, WAPA’s hotline will be activated to accommodate increased calls and those numbers will be announced through the media at that time. Lists of all WAPA’s electric feeders can be viewed and printed at www.viwapa.vi, or copies are available in WAPA’s business offices.
During and after this and other storms, stay away from fallen lines; assume they are energized and report the problem immediately, said Gregory Rhymer, WAPA’s chief operating officer.
Customers should locate and mark their water safety valve in case it is necessary to turn off the water due to a pipe break and then report the damage to the emergency numbers. Have adequate drinking water and food available and extra batteries for flashlights and radios.
WAPA will maintain services as long as possible and will not intentionally turn off power in the event of a storm unless there is potential danger to life or equipment, according to the utility.
Rhymer said if a feeder loses service, control room personnel will try three times to restore the feeder unless conditions in the field dictate otherwise. If unsuccessful, the feeder will remain without service until the storm passes and damage assessments are completed.