As the Atlantic basin officially enters the 2025 hurricane season on June 1, the Dominica Red Cross Society has launched a public call for every citizen, resident and community across the island nation to prioritize early hurricane preparedness and proactive safety planning. For a country that bore the catastrophic brunt of Hurricane Maria in 2017 — a storm that left widespread destruction across Dominica’s landscape and communities — the scars of past devastating hurricanes remain a sharp, ongoing reminder of just how unpredictable tropical weather systems can be.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs annually from June 1 through November 30, and this year meteorological forecasters are predicting an above-average active season. That forecast has underscored the urgent need for immediate action from every household across Dominica, rather than waiting for an active storm warning to begin preparations.
In advance of the season, the Dominica Red Cross has already taken critical steps to boost its disaster response capacity across the country: the organization has updated and optimized its emergency response protocols, reinforced training for local community disaster response teams, and restocked stockpiles of essential relief supplies at its network of local branches across the island. Even with these institutional preparations complete, agency representatives note that official readiness only accounts for half of what is needed to keep communities safe. True, long-term resilience against hurricane hazards depends fundamentally on individual and household-level preparation.
To guide families in getting ready ahead of any potential storm, the Red Cross has outlined five core, actionable steps that all Dominica households should complete within the first week of the season:
First, develop a formal family emergency plan. Hold discussions with all family members to agree on a clear meeting point if members are separated during a storm, and map out predetermined evacuation routes for households located in high-risk areas prone to flooding or landslides.
Second, assemble a fully stocked emergency supply kit. The kit should include at least three days of non-perishable food, one gallon of drinking water per person per day, flashlights with extra batteries, a comprehensive first aid kit, all essential prescription medications, and waterproof-sealed copies of critical personal identification and legal documents.
Third, leverage regional public risk resources. Residents can access free interactive hazard maps, localized risk data and community-specific preparedness resources through the official Caribbean climate risk platform at https://caribbean-risks.org/en/ to better understand the unique vulnerabilities of their neighborhood.
Fourth, secure residential properties ahead of storm activity. This includes trimming overhanging tree branches that could damage roofs during high winds, clearing clogged yard drains to reduce flood risk, and ensuring functional storm shutters or emergency boarding materials are on hand to protect windows and external doors.
Fifth, stay informed through official channels only. The Red Cross urges residents to monitor continuous updates from the Dominica Meteorological Service and local government authorities, and to avoid sharing or spreading unconfirmed, unverified information across social media platforms that can cause unnecessary panic.
The Dominica Red Cross has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting the people of Dominica at every stage of storm activity: before a system approaches, through the height of a storm, and in the aftermath of any impact that occurs. Red Cross volunteers are already active in communities across the entire island, distributing educational preparedness materials and offering targeted guidance to help low-income and vulnerable households build safer, more climate-resilient living environments.
In its closing call to action, the organization emphasized that last-minute preparation once a storm warning is issued is far less effective than early planning. “Do not wait for a storm warning to begin getting ready. Start your preparations today to protect your family, your neighbours, and our beautiful country,” the statement reads.
Residents can access updated regional risk data anytime through the online platform at https://caribbean-risks.org/en/. For additional preparedness guidance, or for information on volunteering with a local Dominica Red Cross chapter, the public can contact the organization’s headquarters in Roseau directly.