Residents of The Virgin Islands, we have been blessed
with a very quiet Atlantic hurricane season but as you are aware, we now face
potential impact from the first system to affect the Caribbean this year.
The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has been tracking the
progress of the cyclonic system which developed off the coast of Africa over
the weekend and latest reports are that it has been upgraded to a hurricane.
Hurricane Danny
is still more than one thousand miles south east of the BVI and forecasters are
predicting that we could be impacted by Monday or Tuesday. We have been told to
expect flooding, mudslides and possible power outages due to high winds.
It is therefore
important that we begin to take preparatory measures now to ensure that we
weather this system as best as possible.
We are still
some days away from potential impact and there are a lot of uncertainties with
Hurricane Danny, but let us not be complacent, let us not panic, but do let us
be aware and prepare. Awareness, preparedness and resiliency go hand in hand.
We are building a resilient community so let us put into practice what we’ve
been learning as a community and what we are being advised to do.
The Department
of Disaster Management has been sharing preparedness tips; I encourage you to pay
close attention to these and take the necessary actions to safeguard yourselves,
your homes, your places of employment.
We will
continue to monitor the progress of the Hurricane Danny and advise you
accordingly. However, resiliency is a collaborative effort and we need you to
play your part in the process. Be aware and prepare.
Let us
demonstrate that the theme for the 2015 hurricane season accurately reflects
our thinking and our actions. Be SMART – Preparedness leads to resiliency.
