As part of efforts to educate businesses on hurricane preparedness and other emergency measures, representatives from the Department of Disaster Management hosted a “Breakfast Forum” webinar yesterday morning in collaboration with BVI Finance.
Meteorologist Andrew Jackson, Information and Education Manager Chrystall Kanyuck-Abel, and Planning and Preparedness Manager Michel Ambrose took turns explaining different factors and preparations residents should take into consideration for the current hurricane season.
At times, they used tools from the United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, explaining how to read its charts and reports. They also used tools provided by the DDM itself. This year, they said, the NOAA predicts a “near normal” hurricane season with two contributing factors: El Nino and above-average Atlantic Ocean temperatures.
“When we tend to have warm ocean temperatures, we find that storms tend to feed on this,” said Mr. Jackson. “We have a conflict in our factors, so what we might expect is a balancing effect. It depends on how strong the El Nino factor is.”
Ms. Ambrose said that residents should be prepared at each stage of a storm — from tropical depression to category five hurricane — as it progresses.
“We shouldn’t be preparing at the last minute for any one of these stages,” she said.
Mr. Jackson went into more detail about the weather patterns the territory has been experiencing in recent weeks.
“Tropical waves are usually the first phase of the development of a storm. Right now we have one off the coast of Africa and another one closer to the [VI],” he said. “The current weather we’re experiencing is because of this.”
Sahara dust has also been affecting the territory this season, according to the department.
“It affects the heat that we feel because it makes the air very dry. It affects people with respiratory-type illnesses,” Mr. Jackson explained during the webinar.
“When the dust is present, it comes with a lot of dry air, and a storm cannot feed on that dry air. When we have an excessive amount of Sahara dust present, it’s harder for a storm to develop.”
Mr. Jackson also warned residents of the rising temperatures in the territory and across the world.
“Heat has been a major factor in the territory right now, and on a larger scale this has to do with the way the climate is changing over time,” he added. “We have to pay attention to this because we have people who work outside, like construction workers, or kids that are going to summer school. We have people who work on boats, or tourists who come to enjoy the VI. [The DDM] will always give tips as to what we can do, especially in extreme heat situations.”
Preparedness kits
Panellists encouraged residents to prepare for hurricanes with kits that include food, water, medicine, radios, flashlights, batteries, tools to create shelters, and hygiene supplies.