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United States Virgin Islands

US Virgin Islands: Gubernatorial Proclamation - State of Emergency Due to Sub-Tropical Storm Otto

A PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS DUE TO SUB-TROPICAL STORM OTTO

WHEREAS, Title 23, Section 1005(a), Virgin Islands Code, vests in the Governor the responsibility for meeting the dangers to the Territory and people presented by emergencies or major disasters; and

WHEREAS, on October 5, 2010, the National Hurricane Center issued a flash flood watch and small craft advisory warning for the United States Virgin Islands based on the course of a tropical wave and unstable air mass and forecast heavy sustained rains and thunderstorm with the potential of inflicting damage on residential, commercial, industrial and governmental facilities in the Territory; and

WHEREAS, on October 7, 2010, the severe weather system developed into sub-Tropical Storm Otto causing the Territory to experience torrential rains, flash-flooding, mudslides and extensive flooding which caused damage to critical infrastructure, failed roads systems, overflowing guts, and electrical power outages throughout the islands of St. Croix, S1. Thomas, St. John and Water Island; and

WHEREAS, in order to protect the lives and property of the residents of the United States Virgin Islands, the Governor of the Virgins Islands closed public schools and suspended governmental operations and activated all possible territorial resources including the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, Department of Public Works, and other agencies with the cooperation of partners to allow for the repair and/or restoration of damaged infrastructure where necessary to prevent further damage to critical structures; and

WHEREAS, Title 23, Section 1005(d), Virgin Islands Code, vests in the Governor the authority to declare a State of Emergency if it is determined that an emergency or major disaster has occurred or is imminent.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, John P. de Jongh, Jr., Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 11 of the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended, do hereby DECLARE as follows:

1. A Slate of Emergency throughout the United States Virgin Islands effective on October 5, 2010, and such Slate of Emergency shall continue in effect until further Proclamation of the Governor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands to be affixed at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands this 5th of Oclober, AD., 2010.

John P. de Jongh, Jr.
Governor

Gregory R. Francis
Lieutenant Governor