Every time the month of June steps in there is a considerable amount of apprehension in the Caribbean region and other areas of the world vulnerable to the destructive force of hurricane activity. There is much reason for the concern, taking into account that for some scientific reason both the numbers and severity of the storms appear to be ever-increasing, putting to the greatest test the level of disaster preparedness everywhere.

Anguilla and many of the surrounding islands lie in the path of some of the worst storms coming off the African coast, traveling west through the Atlantic and then taking a more northerly turn towards the coastlines of the United States. In rare circumstances, like in the case of Hurricane Lenny, storms may approach Anguilla and its neighbouring islands from the Western Caribbean Basin. There is therefore danger all around and so the watch word is preparedness.

It is interesting to note that three reputable sources have predicted similar numbers and patterns of hurricanes for this season from June to November. Professor William Gray of the Colorado State University, the Banfield Hazard Research Centre of the University College of London and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are in agreement in their predictions. According to them there may be 12 - 15 named storms; 7 - 8 hurricanes and 3 - 4 major hurricanes. One prediction is that a major hurricane is likely to make landfall in the Caribbean area. At least two other hurricanes are predicted to strike somewhere in the Lesser Antilles. Frightening?

With the commencement of the hurricane season, the Caribbean Emergency Disaster Relief Agency (CEDRA) has made known its readiness for any eventualities. In doing so, it has appealed to the political directorates in the region for more support for its relief work. It has also called on the region’s citizenry not to rely on the Governments’ level of hurricane preparedness. What it says is that “disaster preparedness is everybody’s business.” Here we would like to pay tribute to the British Government’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service which has a ship in the area loaded with hurricane relief supplies and equipment, ready to provide emergency assistance to any of the affected islands.

No one can stop the forces of nature and therefore the unwelcome and destructive visitation of hurricanes. But we all can prepare for them by taking every possible precaution to minimise the damage they can cause. Citizens should now begin to secure their housing and other unprotected property; remove all loose objects such as galvanise, drums, buckets and other solid waste from around their homes and construction sites. Hurricane winds can whip up these objects, turn them into missiles and slam them with lethal force into someone’s house, vehicle or into some hapless person or persons. Let it not be that through a careless lack of preparation we have to pay greatly in terms of property and life.

The National Disaster Preparedness Committee, the Coordinator Wycliffe Richardson and the recently-appointed Adviser, Roger Bellers, will have much to do in planning relief work and in sensitising the Anguillian populace about the need for disaster preparedness, but our people must take their own initiatives as well. Hurricane activity is not the only hazard that threatens us, but it is certainly the most common natural evil. We would be foolhardy not to guard against it and, of course, ask God to protect us from its violence.

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