FEMA Deploys Assets and Urges Residents to Be Prepared for Tropical Storm Chantal

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its Caribbean Area office in Puerto Rico and in coordination with the National Weather Service, continues to monitor Tropical Storm Chantal.
 
FEMA has proactively deployed liaisons to emergency operations centers in Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas, to coordinate with local officials, should additional support be requested, or needed. A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) has been deployed to the U.S. Virgin Islands, to assist with the coordination of planning and response operations. This team is in addition to the personnel and resources that are located year-round at FEMA’s Caribbean Area Office and Caribbean Area Distribution Center located in Puerto Rico.
 
According to the National Weather Service, a tropical warning is in effect for the coastal waters of Puerto Rico and a tropical watch has been issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 36 hours somewhere within the specified areas. Tropical storms often bring strong winds, storm surge accompanied by dangerous waves, significant rainfall and the risk for flash flooding in many areas.
 
“Residents in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands should closely monitor the storm and take steps now to be as prepared as possible,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Stay away from flood waters, never drive through flooded roadways and follow the direction of commonwealth and territory officials.”
 
Residents or visitors in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands:
 
Listen to the instructions of local officials. Local officials make decisions on sheltering in place or going to your pre-designated safe meeting location.
 
Have important supplies ready to sustain you and your family, if needed. This includes water, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, cell phone charger, medicines, non-perishable food, and first aid supplies.
 
Stay up-to-date with the latest forecast. Follow local radio and TV reports, as well as forecasts from the National Hurricane Center.
 
FEMA encourages the public to remain vigilant, to continue monitoring Tropical Storm Chantal and to use this opportunity to reassess their readiness for the 2013 hurricane season. For more information on preparing for hurricanes and other natural disasters, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family, visit www.Ready.gov or www.listo.gov on the Internet. Information regarding emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster can also be found at m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app from your smartphone’s app store.
 
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Original source – 

FEMA Deploys Assets and Urges Residents to Be Prepared for Tropical Storm Chantal

Ahead of Tropical Storm Chantal FEMA Urges Residents to Take Steps to Prepare, Listen to Local Officials

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its Caribbean Area office in Puerto Rico and in coordination with the National Weather Service, is monitoring the conditions of Tropical Storm Chantal.

According to the National Weather Service, a tropical storm watch is in effect for the coastal waters of the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours somewhere within the specified areas. Tropical storms often bring storm surge and significant rainfall and flooding.

FEMA urges residents in potentially affected areas to closely monitor the storm and take steps now to be prepared in advance of severe weather and most importantly, follow the direction of commonwealth and territory officials. At this time, it is still too early to know whether the storm could pose an immediate threat to the eastern coast of the United States, but for individuals in areas that could be affected now is the time to refresh your emergency kit and review your family plan. If you do not have an emergency kit or family plan, or to learn about steps you can take now to prepare your family for severe weather, visit www.Ready.gov.

Residents or visitors in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands:

Listen to the instructions of local officials. Local officials make decisions on sheltering in place or going to your pre-designated safe meeting location.

Have important supplies ready to sustain you and your family, if needed. This includes water, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, cell phone charger, medicines, non-perishable food, and first aid supplies.

Stay up-to-date with the latest forecast – Follow local radio and TV reports, as well as forecasts from the National Hurricane Center.

FEMA encourages the public to remain vigilant, to continue monitoring Tropical Storm Chantal and to use this opportunity to reassess their readiness for the 2013 hurricane season. For more information on preparing for hurricanes and other natural disasters, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family, visit www.Ready.gov or www.listo.gov. Information regarding emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster can also be found at m.fema.gov or by downloading the FEMA app from your smartphone’s app store.

 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Ahead of Tropical Storm Chantal FEMA Urges Residents to Take Steps to Prepare, Listen to Local Officials

FEMA and Federal Partners Continue to Monitor Tropical Storm Isaac

FEMA Continues to Urge Residents in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Coastal Areas to Take Steps to Prepare

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners, through the FEMA Regional Headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. and Caribbean Area Office, continue to monitor Tropical Storm Isaac in the eastern Caribbean Sea, and have been in close coordination with Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency, Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.  NOAA’s National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning for both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and tropical storm conditions are possible over these areas within 36 hours. FEMA and its federal partners urge residents of the commonwealth and territory to closely monitor the storm and to follow the direction of local officials as potential severe weather approaches.

FEMA has activated an Enhanced National Watch in Washington, DC, as well as the Regional Response Coordination Center that supports Caribbean activities, to proactively support any potential needs or requests from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Florida.  In advance of the storm, FEMA proactively deployed Incident Management Assistance Teams to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to coordinate with local officials and to support emergency managers should additional support be requested, or needed. Additionally, FEMA has liaisons in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands emergency operations centers, to further strengthen coordination. These assets supplement federal resources and personnel that are staged, year-round, at FEMA’s Caribbean Area Office and Caribbean Area Distribution Center located in Puerto Rico. 

Today, FEMA also deployed a liaison to coordinate with the Florida Division of Emergency Management.  Other teams have been identified and will be mobilized as needed and requested.   FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico, and supplies are also available on the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“FEMA continues to monitor Tropical Storm Isaac and remains in close contact with state, commonwealth and territorial officials in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  All residents in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands should be paying close attention to this storm and listening to their local officials for key updates and information,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “In addition to strong winds, tropical storms can also bring heavy rains and flooding.  Now is the time to prepare your families, homes or businesses, so if you haven’t already, visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov to learn how.”

The National Weather Service is forecasting total rain accumulations of two to four inches with maximum amounts of 10 inches possible in parts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  FEMA urges residents in affected areas to avoid walking or driving through flooded areas. Be aware that water can rise rapidly and flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground.  Don’t put yourself at risk, follow the instructions of local officials, and if they give the order to evacuate – evacuate.

As is always the case, local officials make decisions on issuing evacuation orders, so FEMA advises residents to remember to listen to the direction of their local officials, and to learn where evacuation routes and sheltering locations are located, in case evacuation orders are given.

At this time, it is still too early to know whether the storm could pose an immediate threat to the U.S. Coast.  History shows that storm tracks can change quickly and unexpectedly, so FEMA encourages coastal residents to monitor weather conditions, follow the direction of local officials, and visit Ready.gov to learn about a few simple steps they can take now to be prepared.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Originally posted here:

FEMA and Federal Partners Continue to Monitor Tropical Storm Isaac

St. John Ferry Services Announces Schedule Changes in Light of Tropical Storm Isaac

St. John Ferry Services Announces Schedule Changes in Light of Tropical Storm Isaac

Main Content

Release date:

August 22, 2012

As a result of the pending storm and the closing of the V.I. Ports, the ferry services’ schedules are as follows:

Departing:

Cruz Bay, St. John to Red Hook, St. Thomas
Hourly with final service at 7:00 pm.

Red Hook St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John
Hourly until 7:00 with final service at 7:30 pm.

Charlotte Amalie, Sf. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John
Regular schedule with final service at 5:30 pm

Cruz Bay, St. John to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Regular schedule with final service at 3:45 pm.

For further information, please call 340-776-6412 or 340-776-6282.

Last Updated:

August 23, 2012 – 19:04

State or Region:

U.S. Virgin Islands

and

Region II

Originally from – 

St. John Ferry Services Announces Schedule Changes in Light of Tropical Storm Isaac