U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2014 The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) is announcing that sandbags and sand will be distributed territory-wide on Thursday, August 13, 2020, and Tuesday, August 18, 2020, to residents whose property is susceptible to flooding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cNormally, we issue sandbags and sand only when there is an imminent threat of flooding during the hurricane season,\u201d said VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen. \u201cHowever, in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to take precautions to protect personnel working at our distribution sites and the general public, we have adjusted our procedures to distribute sandbags and sand safely under blue skies \u2013 when there is no immediate threat of flooding.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
VITEMA, in collaboration with the departments of Public Works, Health, V.I. Police and the V.I. Fire Service, has updated the territory\u2019s Sandbag Distribution Plan to include new protocols specific to the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new guidelines direct that mitigation strategies \u2013 such as social distancing, increased hygiene and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) \u2013 be followed during the distribution of sandbags and sand. All personnel providing support at distribution sites are required to don PPEs and practice social distancing in accordance with the V.I. Department of Health\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Sandbags and sand will be distributed between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2020, and Tuesday, August 18, 2020, to residents only, and a total of six (6) bags will be allotted per household.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
At VI Fire Stations, residents should be prepared to fill the six (6) sandbags with shovels and sand made available at each station. Firefighters will provide special assistance to the elderly and the physically challenged population. Individuals will be required to wear masks and utilize the portable on-site hand washing stations before and after filling their bags to reduce COVID-19 risk. Individuals will be required to complete a Sandbag Distribution Form before filling their sandbags. VI Police will be on-location to provide access control and ensure proper social distancing is maintained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
At Public Works locations, six (6) pre-filled sandbags will be loaded by employees to residents\u2019 vehicles. There will be no need to exit the vehicle, but each vehicle occupant will be required to wear a mask to reduce COVID-19 risk and complete the Sandbag Distribution Form before leaving. VI Police will be on-location to provide traffic flow to and from the loading area.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Sandbags and sand will be distributed at the following sites:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
St. Croix<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Department of Public Works, Estate Anna\u2019s Hope<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Department of Public Works, Estate Concordia West<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Renceliar Gibbs Fire Station, Cotton Valley<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Charles A. Seales Fire Station, Grove Place<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n St. Thomas<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Department of Public Works, Sub Base<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Fortuna Fire Station<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Curriculum Center (Tutu)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Omar Brown Fire Station, Estate Taarneberg<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n St. John<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Coral Bay Fire Station<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Department of Public Works, Susannaberg<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n According to Director Jaschen, this month\u2019s distribution does not include government agencies and departments, which will be scheduled at a later date. The director is also reminding the public that is illegal to remove sand from beaches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For more information, call VITEMA at 340-773-2244 on St. Croix, 340-774-2244 on St. Thomas or 340-776-2244 on St. John.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2014 The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) is announcing that sandbags and sand will be distributed territory-wide on Thursday, August 13, 2020, and Tuesday, August 18, 2020, to residents whose property is susceptible to flooding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":768,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-post"],"yoast_head":"\n