Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Message from Honourable Andrew A. Fahie Regarding the End of the Atlantic Hurricane Season

Message from Honourable Andrew A. Fahie Regarding the End of the Atlantic Hurricane Season

Good day and God’s blessings to the Virgin Islands.
We are indeed blessed today as we can say that we have come through yet another Atlantic Hurricane Season safely and with very few effects on our shores. I think the entire Virgin Islands can feel immensely grateful that storms or hurricanes did not place any additional burdens upon us during what has already been a burdensome year.

What we cannot do, however, is become complacent. Our Territory may have been spared, but this season has been one for the record books. We saw 30 named storms, more than have ever been recorded in a single season. There were 13 hurricanes, which is more than double that of an average season. There were six major hurricanes, compared to the three major hurricanes seen in an average season. For only the second time in history, the usual alphabetical list of storm names was exhausted, causing forecasters to utilise the Greek Alphabet naming protocol for the last nine storms of the season. There were even two systems that formed before the official start of the hurricane season on June 1, and this is the sixth consecutive year wherein we have seen systems form ahead of the season.

All this means that it is incumbent on us as a Government – on all of us as a Territory, to be diligent and continue to work to be ready for storms and other hazards.

I am pleased to report that your Government is doing its part. Cabinet recently approved a Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy that will guide our disaster risk management efforts for the next five years. We know that preparing for and responding to disasters and emergencies takes an entire-Territory approach, and that is precisely why this Comprehensive Strategy was needed. The document outlines the duties and responsibilities of all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; and identifies the roles of key partners such as regional and international agencies, private businesses, and local community-based organisations.

Officers within the Department of Disaster Management have been working diligently to complete upgrades to the National Early Warning and Multi-hazard Alert System. Emergency sirens, weather stations, and backup communications systems such as high frequency radio units mean that the entire Territory – including our populations on the Sister Islands – will have access to emergency information even after a major impact. Decentralised contingency stocks have also been set up in key communities around the Territory to enable rapid access to potentially critical response supplies even in some of our more remote communities.

Several of the Territory’s land-based emergency shelters received improvements under an ongoing partnership between the Government of the Virgin Islands, the European Union, and the Pan-American Health Organization. The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry assessed the Territory’s full stock of marine shelters so that the fishers and other boaters once again have access to anchorages for securing their vessels.

Our security and first responders remained ready throughout the season, and responded rapidly where needed to ensure that our people had continued access to essential services and utilities.

This year we saw teams from the Ministry of Transportation, Works and Utilities such as the Departments of Public Works ensuring that our ghuts remained clear and our roadways remained passable despite heavy rainfall.

From what I have observed, many of you were likewise doing your part to be ready this season. You monitored the weather updates so you could stay informed; you updated your family and business preparedness plans; you took steps to protect your property; you assembled your supplies and essential documents; and, because you are a people filled with BVILOVE, you checked in on your vulnerable neighbours, friends and relatives to provide assistance where possible.

As we reflect on the passing of this historic 2020 hurricane season, I must say TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY! I encourage each and every one of you to continue to embrace the mission we are all on together to be a prepared and resilient Territory.

Thank you, and may God bless these beautiful Virgin Islands.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×