Just because your telephone, fax or modem line is working fine right now doesn't mean you're home free from Hurricane Lenny on the telecommunications front. According to a release from the V.I. Telephone Corp., "latent effects of the storm" will start to affect telephone service soon "due to the corrosive effects of the salt spray."
As a result, Vitelco president Samuel Ebbesen said, "It is very important for customers to report any service problems they are experiencing, as well as the location of downed or low- hanging telephone lines." Such customer reports, he said, will enable the utility company to dispatch repair crews to the locations where they are needed.
Furthermore, motorists are urged not to drive over or attempt to cut downed telephone lines. "Even though a telephone line is down, it may still be providing service," the release stated.
Crews worked over the weekend making repairs, and most lines were in service on St. John and St. Thomas by Sunday. Company spokeswoman Katrina White-Comissiong said Monday morning that updated information on the status of problems remaining would be available in the afternoon.
Vitelco reported extensive hurricane damage from wind, water and salt spray to the "outside plant" — transformers, cables and lines — on St. Croix and some damage to the comparable facilities on St. Thomas.
Ebbesen commended the utility workforce for "a tremendous job in preparing for the storm" and noted that crews have worked around the clock since Lenny's leaving to assess damages and undertake repairs.
