2 Alerts from VITEMA

Alert / Warning
Meteorological - SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

...This is an ACTUAL SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ALERT...

Issued By: VITEMA
Affected Jurisdictions: St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Water Island Counties

Headline: The National Hurricane Places Virgin Islands Under Tropical Storm Watch, VITEMA Urges Public to Prepare

The National Hurricane Center has placed the Virgin Islands under a Tropical Storm Watch as Chantal continues to churn its way across the Atlantic. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions could be experienced in the region in the next 48 hours.
At 5 p.m. the center of Tropical Storm Chantal was located near latitude 11.8 degrees north, longitude 53.9 degrees west, about 839 miles east southeast of the Virgin Islands. The storm is moving west-northwest near 26 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds near 45 miles per hour with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center. Some strengthening is forecast during the next few days.

On its present track, Tropical Storm Chantal will make its closest point of approach to the Virgin Islands at about midnight on Tuesday, passing approximately 130 miles south-southwest of St. Croix. Chantal is expected to be a tropical storm with winds to 65 miles per hour near the center when it passes to the south of the Virgin Islands.
The center of Chantal should reach the Lesser Antilles on Tuesday morning, move into the Eastern Caribbean Sea later on Tuesday and be near Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

VITEMA urges the public to take steps now to ensure they are ready in the event the Territory is impacted by Tropical Storm Chantal. Make sure your preparedness includes assembling an emergency supply kit stocked with at least three days’ worth of essential items and a plan to contact and communicate with family. Special consideration should be given to young children, the elderly and pets.
Monitor local radio and TV broadcasts for weather updates on Tropical Storm Chantal and for directions from local emergency management officials.

2nd Alert -

Alert / Warning
Meteorological - SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

...This is an ACTUAL SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ALERT...

Issued By: VITEMA
Affected Jurisdictions: St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Water Island Counties

Headline: Coast Guard Captain of the Port Sets Port Condition X-RAY for All USVI and Puerto Rico Ports

Coast Guard Sector San Juan Alternate Captain of the Port, Capt. David Flaherty, set Port Condition X-RAY at 6 p.m. Monday for all the ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico due to incoming Tropical Storm Chantal.
During Port Condition X-RAY (48 hours before gale-force winds make landfall) all maritime operations including waterfront facility and vessel transits may occur until further notice and are subject to prudent seamanship and safe working practices.
Inbound vessels that will be unable to depart if Port Condition YANKEE is set, are advised to seek an alternate destination. Container terminal operators shall reduce container stack heights to no more than three high, or propose alternate
securing arrangements to the Captain of the Port. The Captain of the Port may require additional precautions to ensure the safety of the ports and waterways.
The Captain of the Port anticipates that the port condition may be increased to YANKEE in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico within the next 12 hours if the track for Tropical Storm Chantal remains as forecasted.

Pleasure craft operators are advised to seek safe harbor. Owners of larger boats are urged to move their boats to inland marinas where they will be less vulnerable to breaking free of their moorings or sustaining damage. Trailer able boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place that is not prone to flooding. Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to secure life rings, lifejackets and small boats. These items, if not secured properly, can break free and require valuable search and rescue resources be diverted and precluded from assisting people who may actually be in distress.