Days before its official start on June 1, the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency asked Virgin Islanders to get ready for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season during a Government House briefing Monday.
Assistant VITEMA Director Ovid Williams, who was appointed to the role earlier this month, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a 60% chance that the season will have above-normal activity, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of below-normal activity.
“What that means is that as of now, this prediction says that we’ll have about 13-19 named storms. Six to 10 of those will be hurricanes,” he said. Three to five of those will be “major” hurricanes, according to NOAA.
Williams urged Virgin Islanders to prepare by creating or updating a clear family emergency plan.
“This means sitting down together and discussing where you will shelter during a storm, if you’re staying at home, what’s your evacuation route if you need to leave, what if you get separated, and who will be your off-island contact person that everyone can check in with,” he said. “Write this plan down and practice it with your family — especially your children. Remember to include plans for elderly family members and those will special needs.”
Williams added that “cash is king,” and noted that ATMs could be offline in the days or weeks after a storm. He also urged residents to review their insurance coverage now and to take detailed photos of their home’s interior, exterior and valuable items.
“Create a room-by-room inventory with photos and descriptions,” he said. “Store these photos and inventory lists both digitally and in a waterproof container.”
Williams said most hurricane damage is caused by flying debris and advised homeowners to “take time to consider what might become a projectile in your yard.”
“Check your hurricane shutters and make sure that they are operational — and if they’re not, take the time to replace them now,” he said. “Inspect your roof for damaged areas and remember these tasks take time. Don’t wait until a storm is approaching.”
Williams said to test generators and use them only in ventilated areas.
In the event of a hurricane, shelters will open at: the Adrian Senior Center and Gifft Hill School on St. John; the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School cafeteria and gymnasium and Lockhart K-8 School on St. Thomas; and the St. Croix Educational Complex, D. C. Canegata and Beeston Hill on St. Croix; and the community center on Water Island. People with medical or special needs can preregister with the V.I. Human Services Department for placement in designated shelters, Williams said. Lockhart and Complex will be the only shelters to allow pets.
The shelters will be activated 24 hours prior to a storm making landfall at the discretion of Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.
The application window for businesses to apply for curfew passes closes on June 1, Williams said, and faith-based organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Williams concluded by urging residents to sign up for Alert VI to receive emergency updates via text, email or phone.
During his time at the podium, Government House Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. offered condolences on behalf of the administration to the families of Eldred “Edgie” Christian, banjo player and singer for the Ten Sleepless Knights, and Inez Williams, a pillar of the Estate Grove community on St. Croix.
St. Croix Source
Local government, Local news
