Residents are being advised not to be complacent during the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season which runs until November 30 this year.
The message came from Governor John Rankin during a recently held meeting of the National Disaster Management Council (NDMC), which included committee chairpersons and Premier Andrew Fahie.
According to a media release from the Office of the Deputy Governor, several preparedness efforts for this hurricane season were addressed during the meeting.
These included “completing a continuity of government plan, clearance of ghuts and waterways, and testing of emergency plans within the Public Service.
In addition, the NDMC also received reports from subcommittees regarding the work accomplished since 2020 in the vital areas of health, finance, governance, the environment, education, transportation, and public awareness.
Governor Rankin who is Chairman of the Council said despite the substantial progress made so far, the people of the territory cannot afford to be complacent in what is forecasted to be a very active hurricane season.
“A huge amount of work has been done since 2017 to get BVI back up and running, but we must never be complacent when it comes to preparing for hurricanes and other potential disasters,” Governor Rankin stated.
He added, “As Governor, I hold responsibility for security, including in the area of disaster preparedness. It is a responsibility that I take extremely seriously to ensure the safety of the people of the Virgin Islands.”
Meanwhile, Co-Chair Premier Fahie, in commending the work carried out so far throughout the territory, encouraged all persons to keep putting the necessary arrangements in place.
“We all must continue to join hand-in-hand in this preparation for the hurricane season. We pray God’s blessings that there will be no hurricanes. We will continue to prepare because preparation is always key,” Premier Fahie stated.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this year’s hurricane season, which runs through November 30, is predicted to yield 13 to 20 named storms, with 6 to 10 possible hurricanes and 3 to 5 major hurricanes.