Expect to see hurricane season ramp up in 2 to 3 weeks
Members of the public are being reminded to prepare for an active hurricane season, with expectations for increased activity in less than a month’s time.
This reminder was given by Meteorologist Andrew Jackson and Michelle Ambrose, the Planning and Preparedness Manager of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), at a community meeting in the First District on July 23.
The meeting, hosted by the First District Representative Dr Karl Dawson, took place at the West End Community Centre.
Jackson discussed the hurricane season and what the territory might expect, highlighting the unusual nature of Hurricane Beryl, which formed on June 28 and impacted multiple countries in the region. This anomaly indicated the need for additional preparations as the season becomes more active.
“The Sahara Dust—if you notice from time to time, it’s been a little hazy, that’s a result of the dust that is present, the concentration of that dust can be of great importance,” Jackson stated. “What we can expect in maybe two to three weeks, we can see the season ramping up again, this is because the dust is expected to relax on the sea. When that happens we expect to see storms start forming maybe close to us, or even in the Atlantic where it would be more of a risk to us because when it forms in the Atlantic it tracks toward the Caribbean,” he added.
Jackson emphasised the importance of community support for vulnerable individuals, including disabled persons and senior citizens, urging community members to report their names to the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) and other health institutions for assistance in case of a disaster. This initiative was spearheaded by Dr Natasha Frett with volunteer support from medical staff and community members.
The season is expected to be very active, with a prediction of at least 20 storms, having already experienced three, including Hurricane Beryl. Earlier this year, unexpected heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding, particularly in Road Town, highlighting the need for preparedness and mitigation efforts.
The Director of Disaster Management, Jasen Penn, remarked on the importance of preparedness: “The event illustrated how sudden flash flooding can be and underscored the importance of preparedness and mitigation for the entire territory.”
Residents were reminded that hurricane season began on June 1 and encouraged to be ready for storms, floods, and other emergencies. Resources such as a family plan template, storm tracking map, emergency supplies checklist, and emergency shelter lists are available at www.bviddm.com.
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our government dont seem to be expecting anything as we ramp up for festival and fight off a bill that enforces transparency and accountability.
i guess we will wait until last minute to clean out ghuts messing up traffic… if them bother clean it at all
Can someone pass this information through to Government. They may need to buy insurance. For sure they will need reminding to make sure the ghuts are clean.
Why are we employing multiple locals to repeat information readily available to all from far superior sources . One information officer for two hours a day could internet source and deliver this info to government and media job done . At the moment we seem to have the disaster mismanagement dept a day late amateur antics failing to parrot information , at the last weather event town was already 4ft deep in water when are heroes warned the general public of possible flash floods.
We need a proper meteorological and disaster advisory team esp. during hurricane season. our island is located in one of the prime spots for hurricanes yearly and we should not have to depend on these persons just reading up what they see elsewhere. I look at the weather daily and can determine for myself rather than depend on them. Prepare everyone, before the end of the month. if something happens no need to rush in lines at any supermarkets or shops for things you should have had already at home. Get flashlights, battery lanterns, candles, canned goods, easy to prep meals, dry goods (rice, oats, flour, baking powder, yeast etc) if nothing happens you have grocery to last a while. better to be safe than sorry. Irma and Maria should have taught all of us alot.
its all on Google
Can Government please have all the contractors who are using wood as scaffolding to have this removed in the event of a storm. I see army of missles just in town…
More to the point stop using wood as scaffolding uprights or cross members it regularly fails and kills peasants or as I like to call them uninsured construction workers or workmates.
Dawson needs to clean up his district. Overgrown bushes on the roads and side walk and dirt filled ghuts. He hasnt done squat in the district since being elected
I agree. He’s a complete waste of time. We all know he only got there cause he ran on the green ticket. the first district was loyal to green even after their leader got arrested and convicted … some of them still bewitched.