🏛️ Government · U.S. Virgin Islands
Bryan, VITEMA warn of Tropical Storm Tammy and give update on St. Croix water testing
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said on Oct. 19 that residents should prepare for adverse weather from Tropical Storm Tammy and said rough conditions could worsen risks from the grounded vessel Bonnie G off St. Thomas.
Jaschen said Tammy was forecast to move west-northwest, pass over the Leeward Islands on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, and bring 1 to 2 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 4 inches, to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico. He said the storm could produce isolated flash and urban flooding and mudslides in higher terrain. He said no tropical storm or hurricane warnings were in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Bryan also gave an update on the potable water investigation in the St. Croix estates of Diamond, Castle Burke, Colquohoun and Mon Bijou, where elevated levels of lead and copper had been found in samples.
He said crews were flushing unused water lines in the affected neighborhoods before additional testing. He said water samples required faucets to remain sealed for at least six hours before collection and that samples were being hand-delivered to laboratories in Puerto Rico, with initial results expected by late Oct. 22 or Oct. 23, depending on weather.
Bryan said sampling had been completed at John H. Woodson Junior High School, Alfredo Andrews Elementary School, St. Croix Educational Complex and the Mount Pleasant Housing Community.
The government said the Department of Health was offering lead exposure testing at the Frederiksted Health Center on St. Croix and at the St. Thomas East End Medical Center at Tutu Park Mall on St. Thomas. The Department of Health and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources also were operating hotlines for residents with concerns related to lead in potable water.