Director of Disaster Management (DDM), Mr Jasen H. Penn, has advised residents to continue preparations and to continue exercising caution following a quiet first month of the hurricane season. Photo: Facebook

Hurricane shelters have been identified on all four islands in the Virgin Islands. Photo: DDM

Speaking recently on ‘The Big Story’, Mr Penn said the “quiet” hurricane season thus far can be attributed to the presence of Saharan dust in the region. 

He, however, added, “As we go further into the month, and the dust begins to diminish, then we start to see an upsurge in the Tropical Waves that then start to develop.”

Vigorous wave in the Southern Caribbean 

The Southern Caribbean, Mr Penn explained, has been experiencing some increased wet conditions from “vigorous waves”. These waves have now begun moving northwards. 

“So now is the time for us to really pay attention, we should be more or less way into our preparations.”

Hurricane preparations should include an emergency plan- templates are available from the DDM, ensuring hurricane essentials and emergency kits are stocked, and checking homes and insurance policies.

Mr Penn encouraged those who rent to engage their landlords in discussions to secure the rented property. 

DDM’s preparation

He said the DDM has already checked all the shelters and made the list available to the public, and added that a list of marine shelters is being worked on.

“We would have begun checking a number of our systems as well. We would have also been checking on alternative locations, which, based on current locations, there are also backups to the buildings that we use…in the event we were to activate it or we need to use [them], we would have an alternative site to go to.”

Mr Penn confirmed that all four islands- Anegada, Jost van Dyke, Tortola and Virgin Gorda- have emergency shelters. 

“If individuals were to look at the list, it would show you the shelters based on categories; there’s primary, secondary, tertiary…There’s an actual verbiage indicating what each shelter represents, how it would be used and what it entails.”

While the hurricane season is still in the “quiet phase”, Mr Penn reiterated that now is the time to continue with or begin preparations. 

“That’s not just homeowners but business owners as well, in terms of getting ready for the season in the event these systems start to pick up rapidly.”