Culebra

This was just posted in my Culebra sailing group on Facebook:

"Important notice. The Mayor of Culebra has officially announced there will be no tourism on Culebra until after the new year. This applies to day visitors as well. This decision was made because there simply are not enough resources to handle any more people. Water, electricity and sewer are overloaded now and simply can not stand more. I know this is heartbreaking. But it is reality, and we need to honor his decision and allow Culebra to recover and heal. I don’t want this to become a huge issue. This is the official announcement from the Mayor made in the island’s best interests."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/culebracruisers/permalink/1893313950684691/

Based on this, you might want to change any plans accordingly.

I know very little about Culebra, but wonder whether they were suffering from the same kind of financial troubles that Puerto Rico was, even before the hurricane? I'm not sure what their governing body is, whether they are technically part of Puerto Rico?

Yes, Culebra and Vieques islands are both part of Puerto Rico. So they are not part of the USVI and that is why clearing customs is necessary when arriving from the USVI but not Puerto Rico in these two islands.

The problem seems to be lack of basic necessities like food and water, as is the case with Puerto Rico and the other hurricane affected islands.

Tourism provides an alternative and sometimes necessary income but the local people need to be able to live before tourists strain the infrastructure beyond the current capacity.

Or not. Check the comments and replies to this post on Facebook. Except for occasional restaurant visits, cruisers to the SVI do not use the islands' water, electricity or sewer.

While sailors have a lighter impact on the island in general, as the mayor stated, "no tourism on the island until after the new year".

It doesn't get any clearer than that. Just sayin'