EFTA00664852.pdf

From: Richard Kahn <I To: "Jeffrey E." -4 Subject: Fwd: Important Update on Hurricane Maria from Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2017 22:24:35 +0000 Richard Kahn HBRK Associates Inc. 575 Lexington Avenue 4th Floor New York, NY 10022 tel 212-971-1306 fax 212-320-0381 cell Begin forwarded message: From: "Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett" <newsletterplaskett@maithouse.goy> Subject: Important Update on Hurricane Maria from Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett Date: September 18, 2017 at 4:58:26 PM EDT To: Reply-To: newsletter.plaskett@mail.house.gov Having trouble viewing this email? Click here EFTA00664852 R EFTA00664853 R EFTA00664854  Click on the screenshot above to watch Congresswoman's Plaskett's statement on Hurricane Maria My Fellow Virgin Islanders: As your representative in the United States Congress, I wanted to reach out to you directly as we prepare for Hurricane Maria to impact our Territory this week. Hurricane Maria is a major and life-threatening storm and the Virgin Islands must be prepared. I have been in contact with VITEMA, the National Weather Service, the Red Cross and advance teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as we have tracked this weather system and analyzed its potential impact on the Virgin Islands. I continue to be briefed by the NOAA on Hurricane Maria and current forecast models have the Virgin Islands in Maria's path. The Governor has declared a state of emergency for the Virgin Islands to make certain that the federal and the local governments are able to work together and to ensure resources are dispersed to our community as we prepare for this storm. The state of emergency allows our emergency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Virgin Islanders without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape. EFTA00664855 I urge all Virgin Islanders to remain vigilant and stay alert to local weather and news and visit my website, www.plaskett.house.gov and Facebook Page - Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett - today as we all prepare for Hurricane Maria. We will keep monitoring and issuing updates on Hurricane Maria. I encourage everyone to stay tuned to the latest weather information from the media and from VITEMA until Hurricane Maria has safely passed the territory. Our office in Washington, DC will remain open and we can be reached at 202-225-1790. Again, residents and visitors should spend the rest of the day taking the necessary steps to secure your family and property. As of now, we anticipate several hours of strong, damaging winds and rain across the Virgin Islands. The wind, in some locations, will be of hurricane force with even higher gusts. Additionally, due to heavy rain, flooding is a strong possibility across the territory. I can assure each of you that the government is prepared to activate all of its emergency response mechanisms in response to Hurricane Maria. I urge everyone to continue praying for the protection of our islands from this and other natural disasters. Again, my office in Washington, DC will be open throughout today and tonight and as long as is necessary for any questions or concerns. You can reach us at 202-225-1790. May God bless and protect you and your loved ones and may God bless the Virgin Islands. Stacey E. Plaskett Member of Congress United States Virgin Islands UPDATE ON HURRICANE MARIA EFTA00664856  FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER At 2:00 PM AST, the eye of Hurricane Maria was located by the French radar on Martinique near latitude 14.9 North, longitude 60.4 West. Maria is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h), and this motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected through Tuesday night. On the forecast track, the center of Maria will move across the Leeward Islands late today and tonight, over the extreme northeastern Caribbean Sea Tuesday and Tuesday night, and approach Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Wednesday. Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph (200 km/h) with higher gusts. Maria is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Maria is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Leeward Islands and the northeastern Caribbean Sea. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical- storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km). The minimum central pressure estimated from the Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 956 mb (28.23 inches). EFTA00664857  HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND WIND: Hurricane conditions are first expected within portions of the Leeward Islands by late today, with tropical storm conditions beginning shortly. Hurricane conditions should spread through the remainder of the hurricane warning area tonight through Tuesday night. Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area Tuesday through Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions possible later today or tonight. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the tropical storm watch area through tonight. STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels in the hurricane waming area near where the center of Maria moves across the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water is expected to reach the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands...6 to 9 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the north and east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. RAINFALL: Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches across the central and southern Leeward Islands, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands through Wednesday night. Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches are expected across Puerto Rico. Maria is also expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches over the remaining northern Leeward Islands from Barbuda to Anguilla, eastern portions of the Dominican Republic, as well as the Windward Islands and Barbados. Rainfall on all of these islands could cause life- threatening flash floods and mudslides. SURF: Swells generated by Maria are affecting the Lesser Antilles. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. IMPORTANT PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION ASSEMBLE A BASIC DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT To assemble a basic disaster supplies kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. Download the Recommended Supplies List (PDF) from Ready.gov Before the storm • Replenish supplies of batteries, non-perishable foods • Charge cell phones • Check working conditions of radios and flash-lights • Stay tuned to radio weather updates EFTA00664858  • Turn refrigerator and freezer to its coldest set-ting to keep food fresh as long as possible • Avoid opening door frequently • Install Hurricane Shutters • Prepare windows with boards, shutters or tape • Secure objects around your home that may fly away and cause danger • Unplug electrical equipment • Discuss with your family the type of hazards that could affect your home. e.g. storm surge, flooding and wind; devise and agree to an evacuation plan • Consume perishable foods first, then frozen foods. After the storm • Stay tuned to radio weather updates and news reports • Stay clear of downed power lines • Do not cut power or telephone lines • Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires • Report unsafe electrical condition • Locate generators away from open windows and enclosed areas EMERGENCY INFORMATION Congresswoman Plaskett's Official Website Tel: (202) 225-1790 InformUSVI- special USVI Government Hurricane website VITEMA St. Thomas: (340) 774-2244 St. Croix: (340) 773-2244 St.John: (340) 776-6444 Government House / Office of the Governor WAPA Electrical and Water Emergencies Please include the following information when calling the WAPA Emergency Call Centers: Your name, account number, location, contact number, directions and nature of problem. St. Croix: (340) 773-0150 St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island: (340) 774-1424 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) U.S. Coast Guard American Red Cross ;,' Li I F ;11./1 ke ollo ew ew Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, 331 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515 SafeUnsubscribe"4 EFTA00664859 Forward this email I Update Profile I About our service provider Sent by newsletter.plaskett@mail.house.gov in collaboration with 2, Constant Contact Try it free today EFTA00664860