News Release

NPS Incident Management Team Hurricane Update for the Caribbean Parks, Monday, October 9, 2017

Date: October 9, 2017
Contact: Rob Parrish, 917-509-4426

Incident information

Photos of Hurricanes Irma and Maria damage and response

San Juan, P.R. – The NPS Eastern Incident Management Team continued its efforts to assist national parks in the Caribbean with their recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The primary focus remains to supply the impacted parks, park employees, and their families with the resources and tools necessary to recover and return to normal operations. The team is temporarily based in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center in San Juan. Torrential downpours and thunderstorms created localized flooding in and around San Juan, slowing the recovery progress.

All six national parks in the Caribbean remain closed.

Virgin Islands National Park, St. John – CLOSED

• A 19-member Arrowhead Hot Shot crew from Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks are in the park to support road clearing and debris removal.
• Assessments of damage to natural and cultural resources are continuing.

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, St. John – CLOSED

Christiansted National Historic Site, St. Croix – CLOSED

• Crews are clearing debris, hazard limbs and trees from park areas.
• A disaster relief center was established using NPS facilities.

Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix – CLOSED

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, St. Croix – CLOSED

San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico – CLOSED

• The park headquarters remains without power or communications. Work continues to restore power and communications to the park.
• Work continues to stabilize and protect the park’s cultural and historic resources.

~NPS