AS THE PEAK PERIOD OF THE HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHES; RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ASKED TO ASSESS THEIR RISK NOW, ADJUST THEIR EMERGENCY PLANS AND SUPPLIES TO FACTOR IN THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND BE PREPARED.

Yellow Hill, Montserrat – July 9, 2020 – Showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave located a few hundred miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands continue to show signs of organization. However, recent satellite-derived wind data indicate that the circulation remains elongated.
Environmental conditions appear conducive enough to support additional development of this system, and a tropical depression could form during the next few days while it moves generally westward at 15 mph across the tropical Atlantic. Conditions are likely to become less conducive for development late this week.
* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…40 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days…medium…50 percent.

NHC NOAA Forecaster Pasch 

Tougher building codes minimized damage to homes during the impact of a storm, hurricane or an earthquake. If we’re going to build or rebuild, we must do it right. Building codes make homes safer and stronger.

In today’s programme we’ll here from Jerome Meade, Chief Physical Planner within the Physical Planning Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Housing, Lands and Environment (MATHLE) in Brades

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Yello Hill, Montserrat – August 8, 2020 – A tropical wave located several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing a few showers and thunderstorms. Some slight development of this system is possible during the next day or so while it moves slowly westward. After that time, environmental conditions are expected to become less conducive for development.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent.* Formation chance through 5 days…low…10 percent.

Forecaster Beven

August 7th, 2020 – Yellow Hill Road, Montserrat – Montserrat has received a shipment of humanitarian supplies to support the island’s national response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, August 7th, 2020 at a handover ceremony at Port Little Bay.

The large consignment of medical devices and supplies was made possible through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)-Coordinated Integrated Regional Logistics Hub (IRLH), the World Health Organization (WHO), Jack Ma and the United Arab Emirates.

This timely donation was a result of a commitment made by the WHO, Jack Ma, the Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P., and the Director-General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to support the provision of aid supplies to CARICOM.

The delivery of the WHO/Jack Ma donation to the Government of Montserrat was facilitated through the CDEMA-coordinated Integrated Regional Logistics Hub (IRLH) and facilitated by the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA). The Integrated Regional Logistics Hub (IRLH) serves as a trans-shipment point for COVID-19 related relief supplies and will aid in the coordination of humanitarian logistics.

The IRLH is being established as part of the COVID-19 response and will be available throughout the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane and possibly beyond as a legacy facility. Maritime operations for the hub are based at the Barbados Port and Air operations are based at the Grantley Adams International Airport – GAIA.

The Government of Barbados received the donation of humanitarian aid on behalf of the fourteen (14) Beneficiary States of CARICOM from the United Arab Emirates on July 23rd, 2020.

The supplies which include N95 masks, surgical masks, masks, IgG Rapid Test Kits, Coveralls and Gloves.

Speaking at the brief handover ceremony at the Little Bay Port, The Honourable Premier Joseph Farrell conveyed the Government of Montserrat’s gratitude to the WHO, CDEMA, Jack Ma Foundation and the United Arab Emirates for the timely donation which would greatly assist Montserrat in its fight against the coronavirus disease.

Also present to receive the donation were the Honourable Deputy Governor, Mrs Lyndell Simpson, the Honourable Minister of Health Charles Kirnon and the Director of the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA), Alvin Ryan.

Mr Ryan, who facilitated the delivery of the donation on behalf of the Government of Montserrat, said the shipment of humanitarian supplies is timely and critical to Montserrat’s COVID 19 pandemic and preparedness response especially now we are in the Hurricane Season, which forecasters are predicting to be an active one.

He also thanked and applauded CDEMA and the other partners for this good gesture.

The CDEMA Coordinating Unit remains committed to supporting our Participating States as we navigate the unchartered waters of COVID-19.

CONTINUE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, WASH HANDS OFTEN & COVER COUGHS & SNEEZES.

AS THE PEAK PERIOD OF THE HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHES; RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ASKED TO ASSESS THEIR RISK NOW, ADJUST THEIR EMERGENCY PLANS AND SUPPLIES TO FACTOR IN THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND BE PREPARED; IT ONLY TAKES ONE! 

AS THE PEAK PERIOD OF THE HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHES; RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ASKED TO ASSESS THEIR RISK NOW, ADJUST THEIR EMERGENCY PLANS AND SUPPLIES TO FACTOR IN THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND BE PREPARED.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) latest update to its seasonal hurricane and tropical storm outlook predicts that 2020 will see 19 to 25 named storms with winds greater than 39 mph.

In a press release, NOAA predicts that of those storms, seven (7) to 11 of them will become hurricanes with wind speeds at or exceeding 74 mph and at least three to six of the storms will become major category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes.

The forecast covers the entire six-month Atlantic Hurricane Season which ends on November 30.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season has already seen nine named storms; a recording setting pace.

An average hurricane season produces two named storms by early August, with the ninth named storm typically appearing by around October 4, according to NOAA’s historical records.

Gerry Bell, a lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said this year, they are expecting more, stronger, and longer-lived storms than average.

AS THE PEAK PERIOD OF THE HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHES; RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND BUSINESSES ARE ASKED TO ASSESS THEIR RISK NOW, ADJUST THEIR EMERGENCY PLANS AND SUPPLIES TO FACTOR IN THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND BE PREPARED; IT ONLY TAKES ONE!