Island recovery

The coverage of hurricane damage to the islands is still slowly leaking out.

While Puerto Rico's crisis is clearly the largest, Rutgers has developed a relationship with St Croix over the last several years, so is has been particularly tough watching the stories from that island.

Local news has been very hit and miss. The St Croix Source is understandably more focused on recovery (the virtue of the week was gentleness). The VI Daily News has included some interesting updates.  A station in Tampa posted a few photos.

The New York Times has a compelling set of images and stories from the American Virgin Islands that are heartbreaking. They go inside the main hospital on St Thomas and report that it will most likely have to be torn down and rebuilt.

"Reinforcing the sense of despair, St. Croix was hit especially hard by Maria after being spared the worst of Irma’s ferocity. And what had been a staging ground there for relief operations for St. Thomas and St. John was suddenly thrown into a state of emergency."

BTW, over the last month there have been so many different NPS parks and parkland impacted, that they keep their news on a separate website: https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/severe-weather-response.htm  The news ranges from Kitty Hawk to De Soto to Buck Island. Although for several properties, the current status is little more than "All employees have been accounted for."

Strategies for Protecting the Navesink River

Turning Data Into Action  Strategies for Protecting the Navesink River Monday, September 18 6:30 pm-8:30pm (Registration begins at 6:00 pm) Huber Wood Environmental Center 25 Brown's Dock Road (Locust) Middletown Township Join the professional staff from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program and ANJEC Staff: Ensure new development is in compliance with stormwater management regulations. Review checklists for site plan applications and training on the  E-Tool: Asking Right Questions in Stormwater Review. Learn to take data from collection tools such as Navesink River pathogen pollution reports or  Rutgers's Impervious Coverage Assessment Action and implement changes through ordinances. Township staff, officials, planning board/environmental commission members and interested public invited. Please register by September 12:  Registration fee: $20 (includes light supper and workshop materials) If your commission/committee is on the ANJEC Workshop Plan, there is no charge to attend.  To register: email ANJEC or call 973-539-7547.

Funding for this program is provided by  The Mary Owen Borden Founation