Government offices in the U.S. Virgin islands will reopen Wednesday on their normal schedule, Gov. Albert Bryan announced at his 5 p.m. news conference.
Offices and schools will remain closed on St. John, however, as the Coast Guard works out issues with the ports and harbor, Bryan said. It is expected that ports will reopen after 11 a.m.
Government offices throughout the territory were closed Monday due to the advance of Tropical Storm Karen. The storm is now beginning to pass the USVI, bringing “less than expected wind and rain,” but the governor said the “worst” – as much as six inches of rain generally and up to 10 in isolated areas – is behind the eye wall and will start falling Tuesday evening and last through the night.
There is still no curfew, and government offices, along with public schools, will be open Wednesday on St. Croix and St. Thomas.
Terminals at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix and the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas closed as of 4 pm Tuesday. Major airline flights scheduled to arrive and depart the territory did so without incident, including those for American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Jet Blue. Jet Blue, however, canceled its 6 p.m. flight from St. Thomas to San Juan due to high winds.
Department of Tourism staffers, who were on-hand at the King Airport, were to able to find accommodations for approximately 20 passengers whose final destination was either the St. John or the British Virgin Islands.
All seaports remain closed until further notice.
Bryan urged residents to stay indoors and out of the rain. The governor’s next update will be at 6:30 a.m.
