Damage From Hurricane Tomas Prompts Travel Alert to St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines that Hurricane Tomas caused significant damage to these countries.

St. Lucia's Prime Minister declared a state of emergency and reports indicate that St. Lucia’s transportation and communication infrastructure were seriously affected, according to the State’s website.

There are no reports of U.S. citizens killed or seriously injured in the storm or its aftermath. However, major roads and bridges on the islands are closed due to landslides and flooding, making transportation around the island extremely difficult or impossible. Cell phone towers are down, resulting in limited communication, and some areas do not have electricity or water.

St. Lucia authorities are working to restore services as soon as possible. Both airports on St. Lucia are open, but operating at limited capacity. U.S. citizens should contact their tour operator, airline, or hotel for further information on the situation before traveling.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines also experienced significant damage due to Hurricane Tomas in the northern part of the country, but areas generally frequented by travelers were not severely impacted.

The travel alert expires on December 1.

Visit www.stlucia.org and www.visitsvg.com.