Anxious Barbudans brace for storm and pray it will not cause major damage to their already compromised environment
Anxious Barbudans are bracing for the impact of Tropical Storm
Tammy and praying it will not cause any major damage to the island.
The storm, at present, is expected to impact both Barbuda and
mainland Antigua, and forecasters are predicting maximum rainfall
of up to10 inches and wind gusts of at least 60 mph.
Environmentalist and marine biologist John Mussington says the
sister-island’s sand bar could be adversely affected if Barbuda
receives the full brunt of the storm.
The situation is already precarious, Mussington believes, given the
many environmental breaches that have taken place in the name of
development.
He says the earlier passage of Tropical Storm Philippe has caused
further erosion of the sand bar in the lagoon area, and so he is
hoping that Barbuda does not sustain any major impacts from this
impending system.
Like Antigua, Barbuda was overcast on Thursday morning with mild
shower activity.
Meanwhile, this afternoon’s weather report had Tammy located
about 467 miles southeast of Antigua and moving west-northwest at
15 mph.
Forecasters say there is now a 77% chance of storm winds affecting
Barbuda, while Antigua has a lower probability at 64%. They add
that there is a 12% chance of hurricane-strength winds for Barbuda
and 1% chance for Antigua.
A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for both islands; however,
MET officials are considering a storm warning and a hurricane
watch later today.
Storm conditions are most likely to start on Friday evening, October
20, and could last continually for up to 10 hours, forecasters say.
They say the reasonable worst-case scenario could see hurricane
winds for a few hours.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Education has advised that all
government schools will suspend classes tomorrow, as the storm
nears. However, faculty and staff are expected to turn out to work
to assist with “proper preventative preparations” on the school
compounds.
