Press Release No. 055
Date: November 17, 2003
Contact: Angela Johnson / Phone 773-6449
KEY AGENCY HEADS CONTINUE RAPID RESPONSE TO FLOOD DAMAGE ON ST. CROIX
AFTER EMERGENCY MEETING WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RICHARDS
Lieutenant Governor Vargrave Richards met Monday with key agency heads
and private business owners to ensure a coordinated effort in addressing
the aftermath of recent downpours which caused extensive flooding and
related damage on St. Croix, particularly in downtown areas of Christiansted.
"Our first order of priority is the cleanup," Richards said.
The Lieutenant Governor commended the Department of Public Works for
its immediate response to this emergency situation.
It was decided to replace a manhole cover on King Cross Street, in
the vicinity of Holger Danske Hotel and the Municipal Parking Lot, with
a steel plate that allows for storm water drainage. The street is now
open to traffic.
Assistant Public Works Commissioner Robert Moorehead urged anyone with
information about other displaced manhole covers to report the locations
to DPW by calling 773-1290.
Tony Messer, technical assistant to the Public Works commissioner, announced
that cleanup of heavy debris in downtown Christiansted will begin at
5 a.m. Tuesday, November 18. Then beginning at 5 a.m. Wednesday, November
19, Fire Service trucks will wash the roads in downtown Christiansted.
Also in attendance at today's meeting were members of the Christiansted
Restaurant and Retail Association, who pointed out problem areas and
suggested viable solutions, as well as representatives of the Police
Department, Fire Service, Department of Planning and Natural Resources,
Water and Power Authority, and VI Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
