As the Atlantic hurricane season draws near, Antigua and Barbuda is turning to faith alongside preparedness, with the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) reviving a long-standing national tradition of gathering in prayer before the storms arrive.
A national church service will be held this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. to seek divine protection for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The service, organised by NODS, will take place at the Bible Speaks Seventh-day Adventist Church in Creekside, and dignitaries including members of Parliament, senators, and the Governor General have been invited to attend alongside members of the public.
NODS Public Relations Officer Midcie Francis described the service as a revival of a past national tradition. Speaking to the significance of the event, Francis said the agency recognises that community resilience goes beyond physical preparedness, and that faith has historically played an important role in how Antiguans and Barbudans face the hurricane season together.
NODS has partnered with the Ecclesiastical Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organise the event, which will include specific prayers for responding agencies and national leadership
Beyond the spiritual dimension, NODS is also sounding the alarm on the urgency of practical readiness. With the official hurricane season running from June 1st to November 30th, Francis urged citizens to use this final week for structural preparations, advising property owners to secure roofs, install shutters, prune overhanging tree branches near electrical lines, and clear loose yard items that could become dangerous projectiles in high winds. Antigua Observer
"Make sure that you have your emergency supplies kit on hand," Francis said, noting that kits should include cash, non-perishable food, water, hygiene items, flashlights, a week's supply of medication, and vital documents stored in waterproof bags.
On the matter of emergency shelters, Francis confirmed that NODS is currently collaborating with the Public Works Department to finalise structural inspections in both Antigua and Barbuda, with officials hoping to have the completed shelter list available to the public before June 1st.
The service comes as forecasters are predicting another active Atlantic hurricane season in 2026, with the Caribbean remaining among the most vulnerable regions in the world to tropical weather systems. For Antigua and Barbuda — a nation that has not forgotten the catastrophic destruction wrought by Hurricane Irma in 2017 — the blend of prayer and preparation carries deep national resonance.
Residents are encouraged to attend Sunday's service and to finalise their household emergency plans before the season officially begins.
