Climate change, geopolitics and cross-border collaboration were on the agenda when Disaster Management Director Jasen Penn met with his counterparts from around the region last week in the Turks and …
April 22, 2025
March 27, 2025
Nearly 7,000 take part in tsunami drill
A quarter after 10 a.m. last Thursday, sirens rang out across the territory, signaling residents to get to higher ground for a tsunami drill. All told, 6,854 people in the …
August 14, 2024
With gusts up to 85 mph, Ernesto batters Virgin Islands
Shortly before growing into a Category One hurricane early this afternoon, Tropical Storm Ernesto battered the Virgin Islands with more than 12 hours of high winds and heavy rain as …
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May 9, 2024
Flooding closes schools, offices
As much as five inches of rain fell in parts of the Virgin Islands Tuesday afternoon, tearing apart recently paved roads, flooding several businesses and the Elmore Stoutt High School, …
May 6, 2024
Soil study to inform land-use decisions
Virgin Islands builders, farmers, landowners and other members of the public will have access to detailed information about the nutrition, microbiology, permeability and vegetation of soil in the territory thanks …
April 16, 2024
‘Hyperactive’ storm season is expected
This year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season is expected to be “extremely active,” researchers warned last week. In a report released last Thursday, forecasters at the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project …
April 3, 2024
EDITORIAL: Tsunami drills a success
Tsunamis are rare, but they can be catastrophic, and the Virgin Islands must prepare for them just as it prepares for hurricanes each year. Kudos, therefore, are due to the …
March 29, 2024
Tsunami drill sends Virgin Islands to higher ground
More than 4,000 people across the Virgin Islands took part in this year’s Caribe Wave tsunami drill, with residents walking up the nearest hill to avoid the simulated natural hazard, …
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February 12, 2024
Climate project brings new digital maps
For decades, the National Parks Trust has researched and monitored the Virgin Islands’ natural environment as part of its efforts to manage the territory’s 21 protected parks and identify potential …
February 5, 2024
$1.4m EU grant to help 14 schools
Fourteen Virgin Islands schools will be “safer, healthier and greener” thanks to a European Union grant worth about $1.4 million, government announced last week. The BVI SMART Schools initiative — …
January 22, 2024
Delayed National Emergency Operations Centre promised by late this year
More than six years after Hurricane Irma destroyed the National Emergency Operations Centre in McNamara, a new facility is slated to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year …
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October 19, 2023
What to know about today’s earthquake drill
The Department of Disaster Management is coordinating a local observance of the global “ShakeOut” earthquake drill today. The self-led exercise, which is expected to draw millions of participants worldwide, is …
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October 5, 2023
Philippe flings flash floods
Tropical Storm Philippe cut a chaotic and unpredictable path across the Caribbean this week, finally parking over the Virgin Islands most of Tuesday night and causing flash flooding throughout the …
July 14, 2023
Department of Disaster Management gives tips for storm preparedness
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 …
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January 1, 2023
New emergency app to launch in 2023
As part of efforts to protect the public from hurricanes and other disasters, the Department of Disaster Management is developing an enhanced emergency alerting app that is scheduled to launch …
May 13, 2022
Preparing for early hurricane season
As has become common in recent years, experts are predicting above-average levels of activity for the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Meteorologists from Colorado State University predict 19 named storms, nine …
November 1, 2021
Royal Navy ship visits Virgin Islands
The HMS Medway’s four-day visit proved to be not only a valuable opportunity to coordinate with the Virgin Islands’ lead organisations for dealing with disaster management, but also gave the …
February 8, 2021
$9.8 million contract to bring new NEOC
Having laid in ruin since Hurricane Irma passed in 2017, the National Emergency Operations Centre will soon be demolished, and a state-of-the-art centre will be built in its place, officials …
June 3, 2020
Pandemic complicates hurricane season
Though hurricane season is nothing new to most Virgin Islands residents, preparation work for it may look quite different this year. Governor Gus Jaspert offered a reminder that although the …
February 27, 2020
Mangroves on the move: Habitat restoration efforts underway
On the eastern end of Jost Van Dyke, where sunshine beats down on expansive white beaches, is a quiet little inlet. The pool is sheltered from crashing waves by a …
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August 28, 2019
In surprise, Dorian brushes VI, but no major damage reported
As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, forecasters were expecting the centre of Tropical Storm Dorian to pass well to the south of the Virgin Islands, buffeting Puerto Rico and possibly …
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December 6, 2018
DDM Director Sharleen DaBreo awarded MBE
Sharleen DaBreo’s lifelong dedication to the field of disaster management began with, not surprisingly, a disaster: the 1979 eruption of the Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent. “I can still smell …
October 4, 2018
In looking back at Irma, hindsight is 20/20
This article appeared in the Beacon’s “Irma Anniversary” special edition on Sept. 6. Sharleen DaBreo, the director of the Department of Disaster Management, is trained to think about all the …
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July 20, 2018
Work continues to restore emergency warning systems
The re-installation of disaster warning systems across the territory is in full swing, according to the Department of Disaster Management. “We have been able to source and purchase a number …
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May 31, 2018
Hurricane season starts tomorrow, as Alberto makes landfall in US
The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins tomorrow, and government officials are evaluating the territory’s readiness after last year’s devastating storms. Governor Gus Jaspert assured the public in a press …
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