Bryan To Return To USVI Monday As T.S. Karen Approaches; Press Conference Set For 5:30 p.m.; Public Works To Give Out Sandbags

Governor Albert Bryan will return to the U.S. Virgin Islands sometime Monday, cutting short a weeklong trip Mr. Bryan had planned to meet with congresspeople in Washington, along with FEMA and HUD officials.

Mr. Bryan heads back to the territory as Tropical Storm Karen is expected to approach the USVI and Puerto Rico on Tuesday. Currently, both the USVI ad PR are under a tropical storm watch.

The governor has also called a press conference for 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at Government House on St. Croix to update the community, according Richard Motta, the administration’s communications director. The Consortium will carry the press event live.

Latest update on TS Karen

According the National Hurricane Center’s 5:00 p.m. advisory, the center of Tropical Storm Karen was located near latitude 12.9 North, longitude 62.7 West. Karen is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h). A turn toward the northwest is forecast to occur later tonight or on Monday, followed by a turn toward the north on Tuesday.

On the forecast track, the center of Karen will continue to move away from the Windward Islands this evening, and then move across the eastern Caribbean Sea tonight and Monday. On Tuesday, Karen is expected to pass near or over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center. The latest minimum central pressure reported by reconnaissance aircraft is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).

Sandbag distribution

The Department of Public Works will distribute sandbags on Monday, which D.P.W. said will allow residents an opportunity to safely prepare homes ahead of Tropical Storm Karen.

Distribution locations are:

St. Croix

• Department of Public Works, Anna’s Hope
• Department of Public Works, Mars Hill
• Grove Place Fire Station
• Cotton Valley Fire Station

St. Thomas

• Department of Public Works, Subbase
• Tutu Fire Station

St. John

• Department of Public Works, Susannaberg

Schedule for distribution:

• Public Works locations – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Fire stations – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Residents are limited to up to 10 bags per household. This will allow all residents requiring sandbags to be serviced, D.P.W. said. Access to pre-filled sandbags are available for the elderly, people with disabilities, and specific functional needs.