Government House briefing included VITEMA update on Tropical Depression 13

At a Government House briefing on Sept. 5, 2023, VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said Tropical Depression 13 was expected to strengthen into a major hurricane later that week and was forecast to pass about 200 miles north of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Jaschen said updated notices would be issued if the storm's path changed or threatened the territory. He also said a second weather disturbance off the coast of West Africa was being monitored.

Jaschen said sandbags would be distributed beginning Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, if officials determined there was a credible threat. Distribution sites identified were the Department of Public Works in Estate Anna's Hope and Estate Concordia, and the Cotton Valley and Grove Place fire stations on St. Croix; the Department of Public Works in Subbase and the Fortuna and Omar Brown fire stations on St. Thomas; and the Coral Bay fire station and the Department of Public Works in Susannaberg on St. John.

During the briefing, Government House Communications Director Richard Motta also said the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the Department of Education and the Virgin Islands Police Department would begin an anti-violence public service announcement campaign on Sept. 7, 2023.

Motta also said the Department of Property and Procurement would hold a government vehicle and equipment auction for the St. Thomas-St. John district on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at the department's central motor pool. He said pre-registration was set to end at 3 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2023, and same-day registration would begin at 9 a.m., with the auction scheduled for 10 a.m.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/government-house-briefing-features-vitema-update/