HURRICANE SEASON 2008

Omar grows into Category 3 hurricane in Caribbean

By STEVE BULLOCK,
Associated Press Writer
AUG. 16, 2008

CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Virgin Islands - Omar strengthened into a fierce Category 3 hurricane late Wednesday as it pummeled St. Croix with heavy rains and winds, sinking boats in the harbor, knocking down trees and forcing workers to shut down a major oil refinery.

The fast-growing hurricane was roaring toward the U.S. and British Virgin Islands with top winds of 115 mph. Omar's center appeared set to edge passed the tiny tourist islands, but forecasters warned they could still get hit.

"It could thread the needle, but any kind of track deviation and any of those islands will be clobbered," said Jack Beven of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

At the Caravelle Hotel in St. Croix, maintenance worker Mike Parish was working by the light from generators in a vain effort to keep rain water from blowing in beneath the door. Authorities cut electricity across the island as a precaution.

"We're are doing all we can. The water is too much for us," Parish said.

The storm sank at least two 30-foot boats in Christiansted harbor as it approached from the southwest.

On the nearby Puerto Rican island of Vieques, the storm flooded roads and downed tree branches. One death was reported on Puerto Rico's tiny island of Culebra. Authorities say a 55-year-old man collapsed from cardiac arrest while trying to install storm shutters on his house.

U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John deJongh closed all public schools, told government employees to head home at midmorning and imposed a 6 p.m. curfew for all islands. He also activated the National Guard.

"Take this very seriously," he said. "Folks are out right now doing their last minute shopping, and that's understandable. Once that's done, we encourage them to go home."

Police rescued several stranded motorists from flooded roads Wednesday afternoon. Police Commissioner James H. McCall warned that anyone found on the roads after curfew would be taken into custody.

Jerry Comparitivo, a teacher who lives in St. Croix, said he could see dark clouds gathering as the sun set.

"I am tying up the loose ends right now, and getting ready with my family to hunker down for what could be a very eventful night," he said.

In the British Virgin Islands, residents flocked to supermarkets for supplies.

"Hospitals are in emergency mode," said government spokeswoman Sandra Ward.

In St. Croix, the Hovensa LLC oil refinery, among the 10 largest in the world, was shutting down until after the storm passes, said spokesman Alex Moorehead. St. Croix is the most-populous of the U.S. Virgin Islands with more than 50,000 people.

Most residents spent the day securing their homes and making sure they had enough food, water and batteries.

"I plan to stay up all night and ride out the storm, but I have a feeling it's going to be very bad," said Helino Cruz, a Hovensa retiree.

At the King Christian Hotel, on the Christiansted waterfront, some guests were moved to interior rooms as the wind threatened to shatter the glass doors on their balconies, said Arlene Frederick, a front desk clerk.

Hurricane warnings were also in place for Anguilla, St. Maarten, and St. Barts. A tropical storm warning was issued for Antigua, Barbuda and Montserrat.

Hurricane Omar forced at least three cruise ships to divert course. Flights were canceled on several islands.

The hurricane center said Omar was expected to plow over the northeastern Caribbean islands then head into the central North Atlantic, well away from the U.S. mainland.

At 11 p.m. Wednesday, Omar's center was located 30 miles southeast of St. Croix and 105 miles west-southwest of St. Martin. It was moving northeast near 20 mph.

Meanwhile, another tropical depression was hugging the coast of Honduras, and a tropical storm warning was in effect for the area.

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Associated Press writers Andrew O. Selsky in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Judi Shimel in Charlotte Amalie,

U.S. Virgin Islands; and Marvin Hokstam in Philipsburg, St. Maarten contributed to this report.