Tropical storm warning issued for U.S. Virgin Islands as Ernesto approached

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said at a briefing on St. Thomas on Aug. 12, 2024, that a tropical storm warning was in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands as Tropical Storm Ernesto approached.

Jaschen, citing an 11 a.m. National Weather Service update, said tropical-storm-force winds of 39 to 57 mph were forecast to begin on the evening of Aug. 13 and continue into the early morning of Aug. 14. He said St. Croix and the St. Thomas-St. John district should prepare for 6 to 8 inches of rain during the 24-hour period from the evening of Aug. 13 through the evening of Aug. 14, with possible thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds and a possible tornado.

Bryan said residents should expect heavy rain, tropical-storm-force winds and possible flooding, particularly in flood-prone areas, and should secure their homes and gather supplies.

Jaschen said FEMA Region 2's Incident Management Assessment Team had arrived over the weekend and was in place to support the territory if needed. He also said the U.S. Coast Guard had begun meeting with territorial agencies about port conditions but had not identified a date or time for any port closure, including ferry service between St. Thomas and St. John.

Following an Aug. 12 meeting of the Emergency Management Council, officials said sand and sandbags would be available on a self-help basis from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 13 at the Hotel Company fire station on St. Thomas, the Grove Place and Cotton Valley fire stations on St. Croix, and the Cruz Bay fire station on St. John.

Officials said the Department of Human Services did not plan to open congregate shelters for the storm and advised residents to shelter in place or move early to higher ground if they lived in flood-prone areas. The Department of Education had not canceled school or school events as of Aug. 12, pending further information.

Jaschen said VITEMA did not anticipate any curfew related to the storm.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/tropical-storm-warning-in-effect-as-tropical-storm-ernesto-approaches/