Almost all of sudden wind from the outer edge of a tropical depression blew across Anguilla on Tuesday this week causing some trees to fall. As of press time a few acacia trees were still partly blocking a section of at least one village road.

It was a different scene in St. Vincent where the brunt of the weather system ripped off rooftops. The trouble with these systems at this early time of the season is that they tend to suddenly develop within close proximity of the islands and in the Gulf of Mexico. It means that there is little time for preparation unlike when the storms emerge from the African coast and take days to cross the Atlantic in their approach to the island chain and the coastal areas of the United States.

There is a great deal to lose when hurricanes strike and so the watch word must be preparedness. Here in Anguilla much emphasis is being placed on safety particularly from storms which frequent the region leaving a trail of destruction to property and even death. A new Disaster Preparedness Coordinator has been appointed and a fully-staffed department has been created; various public awareness plans and activities are being put into place and there appears to be a general alertness to the dangers of hurricanes.

The passage of the tropical depression and the minor damage it has caused is a grim reminder that we are in the hurricane season and must do everything to safeguard life and property. One of the things we need to do now is to prevent our roads from becoming blocked at the onset of a storm. Many of our roads are considerably narrowed and overshadowed by tall acacia trees which can fall easily and become entangled with utility lines. It is time to have these cut away before it is too late. Sometimes it is the simple things to which we must show some attention to avoid unnecessary disaster.

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