St.John (USVI) - Local Reports (Caribbean Hurricane Network)

Good afternoon,

WAPA crews finally worked their way over toward Mongoose and we got power about 11:30 this morning. Good thing since our generator, which started right up Tuesday morning for breakfast things refused to start up last night for drink and dinner preparation (and restoring cold to the fridge/freezer). No power, no internet, no phone. Yesterday the Sprint service finally was restored so we were not totally cut off. I was able to call around to numerous friends to find that they had no spare generator. I will be overhauling the carburetor (hey, it’s all I know) and hope to be ready for Gaston.

Looks like little St John caught the most of Earl, followed closely by St Thomas’ north side. But most of the folks I talked to in and around Cruz Bay were thankful that it was mostly a vegetation clearing with little damage that would be hard to fix. Some were glad that they listened to their father and moved the car out from under the trees. “Out in the open” he said. Wise words. Our vistas have improved with the defoliation and thinning of the jungle around us, and with power restored we’ll have a celebratory cocktail tonight and toast our best wishes to all for a speedy return to normal (whatever your perception of normal may be). Also a shower!

Many thanks to the WAPA crews who worked through the early and late hours to keep it going and then to get it fixed. It was a monumental job. Now if “Innovative” could just put out the same degree of effort. It was a little tough to hear on my cell connection but I think they (Innovative repair) said it (our phone) would be fixed by the 7^th. Could have said the 2^nd, but I somehow doubt it.

John

Here is the latest: Mammey Peak-er has power; we still don't in Upper Carolina. But any progress does give hope. Parts of Cruz Bay have had power since this a.m.; the airport is open, but the ferries will not be running until tomorrow. Check with local officials/listen to the radio for the most up-to-date on openings, etc. Update from Hurricane-prone Man*: The tree at Lucy's is 'no more'[the century-old sea grape tree]; the Tourist Trap got hit pretty hard - lots of downed power lines out towards Concordia. Francis Bay took a pretty good hit; not much beach left. Maho beach took it pretty hard; almost no beach to the west of the building (old concession stand). (*HPM says he had been though six hurricanes including Andrew.) Lots of vegetation and a few small downed trees in our yard; fence is all mashed up. We are grateful to get off so easy. Photo attached is of Crabby's and the kayak rack -- similar to a canary in a cage when it comes to a hurricane.

Hey all Cruz Bay survived okay..lots of tree limbs, leaves..some boats didn't fair so well out by the Creek.. No electricity and this may be for awhile. Great Cruz Bay and Chocolate Hole waters faired much less well. Many boats on the shore and rocks..On a good note..Woody's is open, The Beach Bar is open..the sun is coming out and drying things out..word is that Coral Bay did okay also..Really not much rain except for Bordeux area as I have heard..all is good : )

Here is the latest from St. John. This report includes on-scene observations shared with me this a.m.: Power is out to both St. John and St. Thomas. Many transformers blew during the height of the storm; St. Thomas fire personnel have been busy responding to power-pole related fires. Based on power infrastructure damage and debris issues caused by down trees and branches, several folks estimate power could be out on St. John for a week. Only an estimate, but looks like this will take time. The St. Thomas airport remains closed. Many boats on the south and western sides of St. John did not fare well. A first-person account from the Westin describes the whole dock out, awning down, six boats on the beach and two on the rocks. In Chocolate Hole, only one boat remained on its mooring -- and not in a good spot -- being caught in the surf. The rest are up on the beach. (I do not have any specifics or names of boats. Hard-line phones are still working in most parts of St. John; it is best to contact the person who is overseeing your vessel or property, or someone you know in the immediate area who can provide details. At this point, folks on-island are being asked not to drive around due to downed wires, etc., so please keep that in mind.) In Coral Bay, preliminary reports describe one boat de-masted. (The owner is there and aware of this.) Hope to get more details if there is anything to report. That side of the island did not have the storm surge which plagued the south and west areas (similar to Tortola reports re: Nanny Cay, which is also on the southern side of Tortola). To everyone who took time to personally email me to say thank you for the reports -- thank you for your kind words. I would hope someone would do the same if I was not able to post; knowing that my on-island friends are well gives me great peace of mind. A special thanks to Mammey-Peak-er, East End-er, Gifft Hill Guy, Zootenvaal Girl, Bethany-man and Sea-Graper for providing on-scene information.

Latest report is that things have quieted down. Folks I spoke to said they have not yet been able to get outside to look around; Mammey Peak-er said she heard trees cracking throughout the later part of the storm. Everyone I've been in contact with still has hard-line phone service -- and that is great news. If I hear anything noteworthy, I will pass it along. We are grateful that are friends have made it through.

East Ender, Mammey Peaker and the Gifft Hill guy all independently estimate winds for the past hour blowing at 110 MPH. Still no major damage reported (no roofs off that they can see); one has an arbor down, another reports close to total defoliation on the tops of big trees near the house, and branches and some trees down, another tells of the biggest waves she has ever seen looking easterly from the East End of St. John towards Norman island, etc. So... not the kind of wind you want to see keep up, but all also noted that things are subsiding a bit. They quiet down, then pick up again. Overall, the news has been much, much better than expected. I plan to check back at 9 pm via phone for one last on-island this evening.

Mammey Peak-er reports that winds have picked up quite a bit in the past 10 to 15 minutes (about 5:20 pm), and a transformer in the Mammey Peak area apparently just blew. She also describes pieces of leaves in the air looking like butterflies or small birds, but no major damage that she can detect. Keep fingers crossed. I am scheduled to check back at 7 pm. And we have TS Fiona to work on our minds. "Thank you, sir. May I please have another?"

Here is the latest from several people on the eastern side of St. John, USVI -- there are a few branches down, but very little damage reported at this point during the passing of Hurricane Earl. There are wind gusts reported around 40 mphs, and that has been ongoing, but limited rain. Power has been off and on, mainly off right now. Internet is spotty if at all. Given the strength of the storm and the forecast track, it will be interesting to see what, if anything, the next few hours bring. As long as I can make phone contact with people on island, I will provide an update with actual on-the-ground reports. So far so good. Remember that this is what several people who are there are reporting, from their vantage. Phyllis

I am in the states, but have had contact, by phone, from East End, Hurricane Hole, Gifft Hill and the Bordeaux area (outside of Coral Bay) of St. John, USVI. As of 10:30 a.m., all of the people I spoke with in those areas are without power. East End went first around 7 a.m. followed by Zootenvaal (Hurricane Hole), then Gifft Hill and the Bordeaux area around 10 to 10:30 a.m. Reports are wind gusts in the 60 knot range, and a lot of waiting. Hardlines are still working, but most folks have lost internet. Several people involved with amateur radio and the local ham weather net have asked for storm position updates from the National Hurricane Center, if I can continue to get a call through; those are issued every three hours. If I am able to make additional contact through the day, I will share any on-the-ground condition reports. John and Val in Cruz Bay -- good luck to you. To the folks and animals on St. John and all the other islands, may God bless you, and may Earl be kind. Phyllis

Where is all of this rain coming from? An inch of fell in about a half hour this evening -- on top of another inch earlier in the day -- creating localized flash flooding. The attached picture is of the street that runs up past the Moravian Church in Coral Bay (start of the Johnny Horn Trail). Crazy!! The problem is all the rain that has continually fallen over the past week has left the ground unable to hold much more. I thought my car might get washed away. Street was bone dry when I parked it about an hour earlier.

Hope this is the last round. Another healthy patch of clouds, wind and rain is moving through Coral Harbor (hope you can see the picture, as the storm more from south to north into the harbor). Ran the wind meter up and added more rain to the already soaked ground. Forecast for tomorrow is better.

Things looked good up til about 2 pm; skies opened up again with wind, much rain, clouds. We picked up another inch of rain. Then, just after 8 pm local time, we had an earthquake. Ground is already very soggy and unstable in some of the steeper areas. Don't know if the shake (prelim. is 4.7) loosened any ground. Hope tomorrow is drier.

Can't remember the last time we really saw the sun for any extended period. Rain, thunder, lightning and wind -- up to 30 mph -- throughout the day. We picked up more than 2 inches since 7 this morning; this, on top of an already soggy ground has taken down a few trees. Coral Bay has turned brown as rain rushes from the ghutts into the sea. Used to happen quickly but, with soil erosion programs paying dividends, you need quite a bit of rain to darken the bay. And it keeps coming. Thunder in the distance, thunder on top of us. A few customers braved the rain and made it to Crabby's Watersports; one group had to wait out one of the heaviest downpours of the day -- with thunder and lightning and rain blowing sideways, lasting about 15 minutes -- before heading back outside. Nice way to get to know vacationers! Hope the weather improves for them. Right now, thunder sounds like fireworks in the distance. Might be a long night.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms during the overnight and so far this a.m.; wind gusts near 40 mph in some spots. The wind continues to whistle and rain is coming, off and on. During a break in the storm, birds came out to feed. When things turned bad again, one of our former rehab doves took temporary refuge on top of our shutter in a protected spot as the wind was whipped her feathers. Here are several shots of Coral Harbor during various parts of the wave.

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