Starting today, there will be two weekly updates regarding the island’s progress. We plan to share each with all of you. They are being compiled by Love City Strong, The St. John Community Foundation, Coral Bay Community Council, St. John Rescue, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Kenny Chesney’s Love for Love City, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Help.NGO’s DIRT. A huge thank you to all of the organizations for their efforts and their desire to put the community first. Here is today’s update in its entirety:
St. John CommUNITY Update – 10/24/17
Curfew update: 8p-5a until further notice.
+Donation Station is open! Stop by the shop next to Dog House Pub and across from The Longboard in Cruz Bay 9a-2p for retail therapy! Free clothing and shoes are available to all (limited to one bag per person per day). Donated items may be dropped off 1p-3p.
+Love City Pan Dragons has free classes for all! Ages 8–Adult and all experience levels are welcome 2:45p-5p on Fridays and/or 12p-3p on Saturdays between the Rec Center and the Parks and Rec Building across from the Fire Station in Cruz Bay.
+Car barge service currently runs daily, with a variable number of trips. Please ask someone at the barge for the schedule as it is subject to change daily.
The passenger ferry service to Red Hook is leaving Cruz Bay every hour on the hour beginning 6a and ending 5p. The return ferry leaves Red Hook at 5:30a, 6:30a, 7:30a, 8a, and every hour on the hour thereafter with the last departure at 5:30p.
+A FREE east-west shuttle is in service. The safari taxis hold 19 passengers each. Two taxis run concurrently from Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. Shuttle service pick up/drop off points are the Cruz Bay passenger ferry dock and the Coral Bay Fire Station. The schedule for taxis is: 8a, 9a, 10a, 3p, 4p, and 5p. Departure and arrival times are subject to change.
+The Post Office in Cruz Bay is repaired and open! Retail lobby hours are 9a-4p Mon. thru Fri. and 9a-2p Sat. for parcel pick up only. Connections has stamps available for purchase.
+The USVI Department of Labor is open 10a-3p, Mon/Wed/Fri at the Legislature Building.
All unemployment questions should be directed to the Department of Labor. To receive service, bring your ID and Social Security Card.
+The clinic at MKS has been moved to the DeCastro Building in Cruz Bay. Employees of John Hopkins are on-hand at the DeCastro clinic and at the Fire Station in Coral Bay to provide support and supplies including counseling services. The federal government’s medical emergency group, DMAT, is also on hand to support clinic staff.
+Businesses are open with more every day! Chelsea Drug, the health clinic at the Marketplace, Canines Cats and Critters, The ACC, St. John Insurance, Tunick Insurance, St. John Properties, Connections, Postnet, St. John Hardware, Paradise Lumber, First Bank, Scotia Bank ATM in Cruz Bay, Merchant Bank (9a-2p), St. John Ice, Starfish Market (9a-4p on weekdays and 9a-2p on weekends), Dolphin Market, St. John Market, Pine Peace Market, E&C Service Station (7a-4p), Caravan Auto, St. John Auto Repair, Steve Simonson Photo, Bamboula, Papaya Cafe, Sun Dog Cafe, Chester’s Getaway, Hercules, Sam and Jack’s Deli, the Lime Inn, Uncle Joe’s BBQ, Dog House Pub, Cruz Bay Landing, Extra Virgin, 420 to Center, Wok on the Beach (7a-5p in the old Voyages building), Indigo Grill, Oasis (11a-5p), Calabash Market, Thirsty Donkey (2p-5p), and Love City Market in Coral Bay are operational.
+Connections has started an in-office version of the St. John Revolving Fund, providing interest-free loans for St. Johnians. Donations are tax-deductible and donors may identify an individual or group they would like to help. Cash and personal checks are accepted.
+WiFi hotspots in town are up and running. There are spots near Ronnie’s Pizza, Connections, between the BMV building and the tennis court, and on the 3rd floor of the Marketplace. To prevent slow WiFi speed while in use, please disable automatic updating for apps.
For Apple users: Open up your settings, select iTunes & App Stores, and disable the Updates slider.
For Android users: Open the Google Play Store (or Market, if you’re using an old version of Android), open the extended menu on the top left (3 lines), scroll to the bottom to Settings, and disable Auto-update Apps.
Look for VINGN-FreePublic or DIRT-FreePublic. No passwords are needed.
+The Sprauve School is now open! Classes are in session for Kindergarten through 5th grade 8a-11a, and 11:30a-4p for grades 6 through 8. A celebration for all students is planned for November 3rd and Mongoose Junction will hold its annual trick-or-treat on Halloween Day at 3p.
+Gifft Hill School is in session from 10a-2p Mon. thru Fri. Registration for students is open to all! Anyone can come with their child to register for classes from 8:30a-9:30a. Fees have been deferred until further notice. Volunteers are needed for ESL student translators, carpooling, cleaning, and more. Please head to the School for further information.
+Please contact the Department of Public Works or the National Park to report a landslide or debris on our roads ASAP. Public Works is now removing storm debris from public access roads. Move all storm related debris within 10 feet of the roadside and sort by debris type. Appliances, electronics, vegetation, and roofing/construction materials must all be separated. Please do not obstruct the roads with debris. The public is encouraged to minimize vehicle traffic by carpooling or using the shuttle to allow work crews to operate as effectively, efficiently, and safely as possible.
+All Caribbean parks will remain closed by the National Park Service until further notice to ease the strain on beach, trail and road cleanup by minimizing foot traffic in those areas.
+For owners salvaging their vessels and for questions regarding the salvage/removal of vessels displaced by recent hurricanes, please call the Vessel Owner Notification Hotline at (340) 423-6353 or email [email protected] and provide vessel registration, owner information, vessel location, date of removal, salvage contractor, and DPNR/Coast Guard decal target number (for marked vessels).
+The Army Corps of Engineers continues sign-ups for FREE tarp/roofing installation. Residents may sign up 8:30a-3p Mon/Wed/Fri at the Legislature Building in Cruz Bay or the Fire Station in Coral Bay. For fastest service, bring photo ID, a property tax bill, and if possible, a photo of the damaged roof for property identification. Friday, Nov. 3 is the LAST DAY to sign up with Operation Blue Roof. Visit www.sad.usace.army.mil/Blueroof or call 888-ROOF-BLU.
+Apply for FEMA assistance NOW! You may head to
www.disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-FEMA, or sign up at the National Park pavilion in Cruz Bay or the Fire Station in Coral Bay. Remember to keep your contact details, banking, and insurance information updated with FEMA after you register.
FRAUD WARNING: Be alert for false rumors, identity theft, and scams, including phone calls impersonating FEMA. Visit FEMA’s Hurricane Rumor Control page at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/updates/hurricane-maria-rumor-control.
FEMA has launched a Facebook page, FEMA U.S. Virgin Islands, at www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands where residents are encouraged to learn about the various FEMA programs and services being offered.
FEMA is hiring locals for additional support! They need data entry workers, translators, administrative assistance, couriers, facilities workers and more. Applicants can bring their resumé or fill out an application at the Department of Labor at the Legislature Building 10a-2p by TODAY Tuesday, October 24 or email [email protected] with the subject line “Virgin Islands.” Attach a resumé (or list skills and experience), mention which island you are a resident of, and give a brief statement of intent in your email. Interviews will begin this week.
+If you have friends/loved ones abroad who want to help our recovery, monetary donations are encouraged over other offers of assistance. Recommended charitable organizations residents and nonresidents alike may donate to are: The St. John Community Foundation, St. John Rescue, Love City Strong’s Go Fund Me page, Coral Bay Community Council, The Animal Care Center of St. John, and Kenny Chesney’s Love for Love City. The St. John Community Foundation has an online registry for future volunteer opportunities that will be available once disaster response agencies can assess our needs and coordinate a time when additional persons on island are sustainable. Please visit https://voad.communityos.org/volunteer-registration-usvi-irma.
For those that haven’t noticed already, Jenn has a side business which provides tours throughout St. John (and to places you may never have been if inclined to venture). We’ve already signed up to stimulate HER business given all she has done for St. John. Check here: http://newsofstjohntours.com/
What kind of supplies do the schools need?
Thank you so much for all the information you have supplied. You are doing a great job. I am on island next week for two weeks helping friends. The post gives me a sense of what to expect.
This is just a huge amount of information that you have compiled and will be so helpful to those there. Us in the States are just happy that things are running along smoothly and we are doing everything to help from a distance. Good Job on this site as always!!!
You are doing a terrific job. Prayers for your continued recovery. Where are donations most needed?
Jen I read that curfew has changed to 11pm-5am. Is that true? Thanks
Yes but only through November 2 for now.
Remember News of St. John also takes donations! It is a free service for us! – Just Sayin!