A crew of Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority linemen departed Monday for Jamaica to assist with post-hurricane power restoration following the impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, according to a press release issued by the authority Monday.
The team is expected to spend about one month in Jamaica, providing hands-on support to local utility crews working to repair damaged electrical infrastructure, including powerlines, poles, and transformers, according to the press release.
The delegation includes lineworkers and safety personnel from WAPA’s St. Croix and St. Thomas St. John districts. Crew members departed from Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix and Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas before joining in Miami for their onward flight to Jamaica, the press release said.
“While we faced our own challenges last year, we are reminded that it could have been far worse,” said Karl Knight, WAPA chief executive officer and executive director, in the release. “We watched as our Caribbean brothers and sisters in Jamaica were devastated when Hurricane Melissa made landfall.”
Knight said the effort reflects the support the U.S. Virgin Islands received after hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“We have not forgotten that we were spared this hurricane season, and we will do our part to demonstrate the same goodwill we received,” he said.
Paul Gumbs, WAPA line superintendent on St. Croix, said the crew understands the demands of long-term recovery.
“We understand the long road to recovery because we’ve walked it ourselves,” Gumbs said. “Volunteering in Jamaica is about helping our Caribbean family move forward.”
WAPA will continue to maintain operational readiness in the U.S. Virgin Islands while the crew is deployed, according to the release.
