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'We have to be on top of our game' this hurricane season- Premier Wheatley

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a range of 12 to 17 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher) for the 2023 Hurricane Season. Photo: Internet Source
Local Government agencies and partners have pledged to work in a close partnership to ensure that the Virgin Islands is as prepared as possible for the ongoing 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Local Government agencies and partners have pledged to work in a close partnership to ensure that the Virgin Islands is as prepared as possible for the ongoing 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Local Government agencies and partners have pledged to work in a close partnership to ensure that the [British] Virgin Islands is as prepared as possible for the ongoing 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The pledge of support came during the annual meeting of the National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) held June 22, 2023, where his Excellency the Governor, John J. Rankin, CMG said that close collaboration has been key to ensuring adequate preparedness in recent years.

“This is an area where the Premier and I are working together with the Deputy Governor and the Permanent Secretaries, as well as the Department of Disaster Management,” Governor Rankin said.

“We all must be prepared, and the current warm temperatures are perhaps yet further evidence of the climate change affecting the planet and the risk of more disruptive weather patterns to come,” the Governor added.

'We have to be on top of our game'- Premier

Premier, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) thanked the council for their commitment to improving the Territory’s resilience through works done in marine and land-based emergency shelter inspections; structural integrity checks for key public facilities; repairs at schools; ghut clearance; training for first responders and testing of emergency plans.

“I look forward to our continued collaboration toward integrating resilience into all of our systems,” Dr Wheatley said while adding that in light of the early formation of named storms this season, the Territory cannot afford to rely on hope.

“We have to be on top of our game and take action to be prepared for the possibility of storms or hurricanes,” the Premier said. 

Deputy Governor David D. Archer, Jr gave an overview of the 2023 Public Service Readiness Assessment, which gathers data about response plans, emergency operations plans, and measures to protect public officers and equipment.

“We know that the hazard environment is constantly evolving, so we likewise seek to constantly improve the levels of readiness within the Public Service,” Mr Archer said.

10 Responses to “'We have to be on top of our game' this hurricane season- Premier Wheatley”

  • Get started (27/06/2023, 08:16) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Clean the ghuts of all the rubbish so the water does not flood everywhere.
  • nonsense (27/06/2023, 08:44) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Hot air! Be gone...
  • Further... (27/06/2023, 09:02) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    You do not need to have a meeting in the middle of a hurricane season to talk about planning for a hurricane. Get to work and stop adding to global warming with your hot air!
  • Winky (27/06/2023, 09:38) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Says Government......the owners of Prospect Reef
  • Please already (27/06/2023, 09:51) Like (5) Dislike (12) Reply
    Mr. Premier, don’t want to hear anything coming from your mouth. I saw you on the way up and I will see you on your slow spiral down. There is no higher power than the Universe. Tell your wife to stay in her lane and to remember she is not one of us and she will never be accepted as one of us.
    • @please already (27/06/2023, 12:47) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      Why cant you stop this crab in a barrel mentality. Can we tell you who to marry.
  • World's dumbest... (27/06/2023, 15:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We can do a whole TV series of world's dumbest right here...
  • @PLEASE ALREADY (27/06/2023, 17:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    DID YOU SAY ( ACCEPTED ) AS ONE OF ( US ) ? ???? IT IS AMAZING THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE 21ST CENTURY , AND YET THERE ARE SO MUCH IGNORAMUSES LOOSED IN THE PLACE / WHO IS ( US ) ? AREN'T WE
    NOT HIGHLY EDUCATED / HOLY / ANGELS / OR SAINTS ???? ? ???? ( HERE IS A FRIENDLY REMINDER ) WE CAME AND MEET THIS LAND AND WE WILL GO AND LEAVE THIS LAND , BUT THEN AGAIN WHEN PEOPLE ARE BLINDED BY IGNORANCE ,ANYTHING CSN BE EXPECTED , ( NO OFFENSE
  • NO PERFECT (29/06/2023, 10:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How do you prepare for a hurricane just been humorous but it is a real question do for hurricanes are unpredicable so let God be in the ship so we can call on him and he will speak


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