RESIDENTS ARE BEING REMINDED TO STAY READY DURING THE PEAK OF THIS HURRICANE SEASON
Written by Fuze Social Team on September 24, 2021
Governor John Rankin continues to urge residents of the Virgin Islands to Be Ready for the possibility of a tropical storm or hurricane as the Atlantic basin remains active.
Governor Rankin said history shows them that September brings more storm activity than any other time of the year.
He said the best way to protect lives and livelihoods from the impact of a hurricane is for each one of them to do their part to remain ready, adding that this means they should all continue to keep an eye out for maintenance issues at their homes and businesses; restock emergency supplies as needed; and monitor the latest conditions as reported by reliable sources such as the Department of Disaster Management.”
Department of Disaster Management (DDM) Acting Director Jasen Penn said that the department is monitoring regional conditions including a tropical wave located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, which is forecast to develop further in the coming days.
With 17 named storms having formed so far, 2021 has already exceeded the 20-year average of 14 named storms per year. Six hurricanes, of which three reached Category 3 or stronger, have formed so far this season. The average is seven hurricanes with three achieving Category 3 or stronger.
Penn said these figures are in keeping with seasonal expectations.
The Acting Director said that Forecasters warned them to expect a busy season, and based on what they have seen so far, their prediction was correct.
He said they are in the peak of the season now, which means that systems will continue to develop rapidly in the coming weeks, so it’s very important for the Virgin Islands to remain vigilant in terms of hurricane preparedness.
