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- JOSE DOWNGRADED WHILE SLAMMING VIRGINS
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- An "All Clear" was declared by local authorities at 6:30
pm on Thursday, 21 October, following the disruptive visit of hurricane
Jose. According to reports the damage caused by the storm was minimal.
Some trees fell in some areas blocking roads at Meyers and Harrigan. Eleven
shelters were in operation for the emergency but only 23 persons checked
in. Power went off at about 3am and returned for seventy minutes at 9am
and then went off again. Some areas of Road Town had power restored by
7pm.
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- Jose started to lash the islands at about midnight with 75 miles per
hour winds. Weather conditions improved after 8am but the tail end of the
system lashed the BVI for the balance of the afternoon with intermittent
heavy rain and persistent gusts.
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- Government departments remained closed for most of Wednesday. October
21st is an annual holiday in honour of St. Ursula, the saint patron of
the BVI. On the whole a sleepless night for most BV Islanders and residents
and a public holiday completely ruined by the storm. Civil servants, bank
employees and most employees in the private sector are expected to return
to work on Friday morning.
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- Jose was downgraded to tropical storm on Thursday afternoon, when its
winds reached a maximum of 65 mph. The situation in St. Thomas was very
much the same, with Governor Turnbull lifting the curfew at 1pm, Thursday.
Some structural damage is reported in Antigua and St. Maarten, and severe
flooding was reported in St. Kitts and Nevis where it rained incessantly
for about 14 hours. As of press time there were no reports of deaths in
any of the islands visited by Jose.
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