Plans for evacuation as Jose expected to make landfall
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS the Government of Antigua and Barbuda continue to pick up the pieces from Hurricane Irma, plans are afoot to evacuate residents from Barbuda as they face another threat.
According to Prime Minister Gaston Brown, the two islands are preparing to be hit again; this time by Hurricane Jose which is expected on Saturday (Sept. 9).
Speaking with ABS Radio today, Brown explained that relief efforts are already underway to assist victims of Barbuda with food and clothing, pointing out that a number of private donors have chipped in with the much needed items.
“The relief efforts are going really good,” Brown disclosed.
The major challenge the people of Barbuda is expected to face is the rebuilding process, Brown said, stressing that the island has recorded over $100 million worth of damage and losses.
Many of the residents do not have insurance to cover the damage which compounds the rebuilding process.
Against that backdrop, residents would not be able to access funding through financial institutions, because many of the properties have been leased to them.
“The rebuilding effort which we estimate would run in excess of US$100 million,” he said.
PM Brown lamented that many people would have used their life savings to build their properties, all of which have now gone to zero, adding that the rebuilding efforts would have a significant impact on the government’s treasury.”
However, there is an existential threat for the people of Barbuda, with Hurricane Jose churning out in the Atlantic Ocean, according to Brown.
Currently a Category 2 Hurricane, Jose is expected to make landfall on the island by Saturday, as islands in the Leeward Chain are under Tropical Storm Warnings.
The Prime Minister explained that based on the models they have seen, he wants people to take the necessary precautions to mitigate against any major effects of the hurricane.
Moreover, Brown called for volunteer evacuation by those residing on Barbuda - many of who are homeless or had their property damaged by Irma.
If the storm continues to pose a major threat to the island tomorrow, he would be mandating that “every single resident in Barbuda be evacuated”.
Barbuda was decimated by Hurricane Irma – homes and other buildings on the island were flattened and one person is reportedly dying.
Irma was packing winds over 180 miles per hour when it hit Barbuda, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the United States Virgin Islands and St. Maarten, among others.
