With the Atlantic Hurricane Season now at its peak, Anguilla, like the rest of the Caribbean islands, is on alert for any tropical storm or hurricane that may threaten the region.
Anguilla and some of the Eastern Caribbean islands, including Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, St. Martin/St. Maarten, the British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, have all suffered as a result of two category 5 hurricanes – Irma and Maria in September 2017. Though there has been much recovery in the islands, since then, there are still many scars left on infrastructure by both hurricanes.
Here in Anguilla, the hotel and tourism sector has made a substantial recovery – opening for business within the allotted time it took for refurbishing and rebuilding. Elsewhere in the private sector, there has been much recovery as well, although tattered tarpaulin still covers the roofs of several homes.
In the public sector, a mass rebuilding of schools, health facilities and other buildings is well on the way with design plans and actual construction work. The new infrastructure is being funded under the Anguilla Programme by the UK Government through the Governor’s Office.
At this stage of reconstruction, it could be devastating for another hurricane to strike Anguilla – and that is one of the reasons that there is much vigilance on the island. The people of Anguilla, which took the brunt of Hurricane Irma, felt much relief and gratitude that the island was not included in the watches or warnings for Tropical Storm Dorian, and fortunately escaped its effects.
The islands listed for possible effect during this week were: Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada and its dependencies, Saba, St. Eustatius and Puerto Rico.
As the 2019 hurricane season continues, the people of Anguilla and the other islands are being advised to continue to be on guard and to take the necessary protective action for any more storms or hurricanes that may threaten the region.
