http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2017/09/us_virgin_islands_seizing_guns.html

U.S. Virgin Islands seizing guns, ammo in anticipation of Irma
Updated on September 5, 2017 at 12:30 PM Posted on September 5, 2017 at 12:27 PM


By Todd Masson

tmasson@nola.com,

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

The governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands has ordered the territory's national guard to begin seizing guns and ammunition from citizens in preparation for Hurricane Irma's landfall.

In an executive order signed Monday, Gov. Kenneth Mapp instructed Adjutant General Deborah Howell "to take whatever actions she considers necessary to carry out the assigned mission" of maintaining and restoring public order.

"The Adjutant General is authorized and directed to seize arms, ammunition, explosives, incendiary material and any other property that may be required by the military forces for the performance of this emergency mission," the governor said in the order.

The order went into effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m.

Located about 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands consist mainly of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas islands. The territory has a population of more than 100,000 residents.

As of midday Tuesday, the forecast track of Irma would take the powerful cyclone just north of the islands, with the most intense effects of the storm occurring early Wednesday morning. Irma's winds are forecast at that time to be about 175 m.p.h.

"This is not an opportunity to go outside and try to have fun with a hurricane," Mapp told ABC News. "It's not time to get on a surfboard."