Patients From St. Croix Evacuated To U.S. Mainland

This St. Croix man lost his home to Hurricane Maria. Løuie Ğ Bryce/Facebook image

News Americas, St. Croix, USVI, Mon. Sept. 25, 2017: Thirty-two patients needing medical attention in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands were evacuated from Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center this past weekend.

U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Health Dr. Michelle Davis reported that 20 patients were flown to Atlanta on Saturday, while 12 patients were sent to Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday, as the government responded to the urgent health-care needs of residents in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which impacted the Territory’s medical services.

An additional 40 dialysis patients are also now being prepared to leave the Territory.

The announcement comes as the island’s governor, Kenneth E. Mapp, confirmed the second Hurricane Maria-related fatality – a man who was killed when a mudslide damaged his home. This brings the total number of reported fatalities in the Territory attributed to the hurricanes to seven.

He also announced he will meet with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), William B. “Brock” Long, in the Territory today to discuss additional logistics of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ recovery and reconstruction, including plans for a community disaster loan from the federal government.

To support the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s (WAPA) ongoing recovery efforts, the Governor also announced 125 linemen from the mainland United States are expected to arrive in the Territory by the end of this week.

The 24-hour curfew on St. Croix will be suspended again from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, September 25. During the suspension, FirstBank and Banco Popular in Orange Grove will be open for business from noon to approximately 3 p.m. The 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. curfew for the St. Thomas/St. John district remains in effect.