In an effort to bolster the Virgin Islands’ readiness for the Hurricane Season, government agencies and key partners convened for the annual meeting of the National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) on June 22.
During the meeting, His Excellency the Governor, John J. Rankin, who chairs the NDMC, highlighted the crucial role of collaboration in ensuring effective preparedness.
Governor Rankin praised the collective efforts of the Premier, the Deputy Governor, the Permanent Secretaries, and the Department of Disaster Management, emphasising their commitment to safeguarding the territory.
As warm temperatures persist, Governor Rankin drew attention to the impact of climate change on the planet, noting the potential for more disruptive weather patterns in the future. This, he stressed, underscores the need for everyone to be prepared.
Council members shared updates on the proactive measures taken thus far, including inspections of emergency shelters, assessments of key public facilities, school repairs, ghut clearance, training for first responders, and testing of emergency plans.
Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley expressed gratitude to the council for their dedication to improving the Virgin Islands’ resilience.
Dr. Wheatley emphasised the importance of integrating resilience into all systems and urged proactive action, reminding everyone that relying solely on hope is not sufficient, especially considering the early formation of named storms this season.
Deputy Governor David D. Archer, Jr. provided an overview of the 2023 Public Service Readiness Assessment, which focuses on response plans, emergency operations, and measures to protect public officers and equipment. Archer stressed the ongoing efforts to enhance readiness within the Public Service, acknowledging the constantly evolving environment.
Reports were presented on key readiness measures in the public sector, disaster risk reduction activities by the BVI Red Cross, and a hurricane season outlook from DDM Meteorologist Andrew Jackson.
It is worth noting that this was the NDMC’s first in-person meeting since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating a significant step towards pre-pandemic normalcy.