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Be in “Ready Mode” for 2019 hurricane season – Gov Jaspert
Speaking to members of the media recently, Governor Jaspert acknowledged that with the recent participation of the VI in the Caribwave Tsunami Exercise, the territory’s readiness for the hurricane season is one of his key priorities at this time.
Top Priority
“We are three months away from the next hurricane season and one of the top things on my priority list working with the new government is to make sure that we are ready as best as we can be and prepared… that we got shelters, communications, all of the things we need to put in place,” he told the media.
Governor Jaspert further said he is happy that the UK is assisting in the disaster preparedness of the territory, “I am pleased that the United Kingdom has been able to assist and continue to assist in this respect which includes assisting with backup satellite communication, emergency generators and contingency supplies.”
However he said, “There is still much to be done and that [is] an area of priority for the new government we will be discussing to make sure that we are as ready as we can be as we approach the season.”
This he said also includes himself and the new Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) led Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government working with the RDA as a matter of priority.
“Linked to this is taking the necessary steps to access recovery financing including accessing United Kingdom’s loan guarantee which is essentially about supporting the territory to accessing financing to move the recovery forward at a far cheaper rate, saving many millions of dollars to the BVI.”
RDA Prepared
While not going into details, Gov Jaspert said the RDA is already moving ahead with a number of projects and parallel are the workings of the DDM to get key infrastructure in place for the season ahead.
“Being ready for any natural disaster is not just about government, it’s about how ready you yourself are, your family, your house, your business is. So this is the time to start thinking that through.”
In September of 2017, the Virgin Islands was ravaged by two Category 5 Hurricanes, Irma and Maria which destroyed infrastructure and the livelihood of Virgin Islanders with its effects still being felt today in 2019.
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1 Response to “Be in “Ready Mode” for 2019 hurricane season – Gov Jaspert”
Consequently, residents/territory must be fully prepared to be in a high state of readiness to protect life and property, minimizing/preventing structural property damages. IMO, the territory was not fully prepared for the September 2017 storms. The slow response post storm bear this out; the response was not the territory’s finest hour. The territory must prepare, ie, drills, mock events….etc so that when the storm hits first responders, general public…….etc will know what their roles and responsibilities are. Winging it after the storm hits can be a double disaster.
Moreover, a 100-year major storm does not mean it occurs every hundred years. It means that there is at least a 1% chance of one occuring in any and every year. The VI got a reprieve in 2018. Nevertheless, it cannot lets its guard down. Now is the time to prepare and be ready, not 24-48 hours before for example a hurricane is projected to make landfall.
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