Governor activates NEOC at level 1 for Tropical Storm Ernesto
The Virgin Islands is currently under a hurricane watch due to Tropical Storm Ernesto, indicating that hurricane conditions are possible within the next 12 hours.
Governor Daniel Pruce has activated the National Emergency Operations Centre at Level 1, which is the monitoring phase.
Residents are urged to complete their storm preparations by this afternoon and prepare to stay in a safe place tonight and tomorrow as the storm passes. Non-essential government offices will remain closed on Wednesday, August 14.
The storm is forecasted to produce total rainfall accumulations of four to six inches over parts of the BVI, with storm conditions expected to begin affecting the territory by this evening.
A storm surge is anticipated to raise water levels in the BVI by one to three feet above normal tide levels, accompanied by large and destructive waves near the coast. Swells generated by Ernesto are likely to create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has emphasised the importance of stocking up on essentials and securing properties.
Additionally, the DDM has advised that the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services have issued a tropical storm warning for the territory.
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Thank you Governor, for leading us through these challenges.
We are lucky to have the UK’s expertise and resources available to us, if required; as they were post Irma, during COVID and with the CoI.
We should have taken the $400m UK loan guarantee and the Royal Navy ship. If we had, we would have less drugs and guns and better infrastructure.
What happened to the millions spent for the new EOC? Unnecessary pilings, diverted funds, endless incompetent tenders?