The diffused eye remained for between 52 to 58 minutes. The retreating storm effects, with winds from the south, were much more severe and lasted about four hours. Power lines are down but not many utility poles are snapped off. Trees are denuded of leaves and there is the appearance of devastation however, most buildings and other structures survived with little to no damage. Schools are out until Monday to facilitate power re-installation and full road clearance.
Roads are passable but caution is needed to avoid debris.
Most telephones are working but long distance calls cannot be made out from St. Croix at the moment. Accordingly, please limit all calls to essential communication only. The advanced FEMA representative sent to the VI, Barbara Russell, made an unfortunate misstatement in the governor's hurricane press conference after the storm, She said the eye of the storm passed north of St. Croix. This is not true and may have caused some initial relaxation of concern for those on the island. That is all I have at the moment.