As the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season enters its historically most active window, the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD) has launched a comprehensive week-long public preparedness campaign across the Caribbean island of Nevis, running from August 16 to 22. Held under the guiding theme “Preparedness Starts With You”, the cross-sector outreach drive is designed to equip residents, businesses and community groups with the critical knowledge and resources needed to respond effectively to tropical storm and hurricane threats.\n\nThe campaign kicked off on August 16 with a faith community engagement, where NDMD’s specially trained Climate and Disaster Communications Ambassadors visited congregations at churches across Nevis. During their visits, ambassadors walked attendees through core preparedness topics: developing tailored household emergency plans, assembling required emergency supply kits, understanding official government hurricane alerts, locating public storm shelters, planning safe evacuations, and coordinating support for residents with disabilities or other access needs that require extra assistance. NDMD officials emphasized that faith-based organizations serve as highly trusted local partners for disaster preparedness, as they can share life-saving information with families through community networks that residents already know and rely on, helping to ensure key guidance reaches every corner of the island.\n\nOn August 17, the initiative moved to central Charlestown, with an on-the-ground public outreach event held at the War Memorial, carried out in partnership with the St. Kitts-Nevis Red Cross. Red Cross disaster response teams led interactive demonstrations of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and core first aid techniques, also walking attendees through the necessary components of a basic home first aid kit and outlining simple, effective response protocols for common storm-related injuries. Alongside the medical demonstrations, NDMD ambassadors connected directly with local fisherfolk, street vendors, small business owners, daily commuters and other passersby to answer questions, assess existing preparedness plans, and share tailored guidance for their specific risk contexts.\n\nThe remaining days of the campaign are structured to reach every key demographic in Nevis. August 18 was dedicated to targeted outreach to local business communities, helping commercial operators develop workplace preparedness plans to protect employees and assets. On August 19, a public community symposium will be held at Hickman’s Ground, bringing together NDMD ambassadors, local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members, and global disaster resilience organization Mercy Corps for open discussions on local hurricane risk and community-level response. August 20 will focus on youth engagement and digital outreach, including a social media video challenge encouraging young people to share preparedness tips, plus scheduled appearances on Nevis Television at 11 a.m. and local radio at 5 p.m. to reach households across the island. On August 21, NDMD will host an island-wide outreach caravan that will travel through multiple communities, concluding its route at Charlestown’s Memorial Square. The full week of activities will wrap up on August 22 with another round of faith-based preparedness engagement, including visits to congregations at Seventh-day Adventist churches across Nevis.\n\nThe Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30 each year, with historical data showing that the vast majority of major tropical cyclone activity occurs between August and October. According to an updated 2026 seasonal outlook from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this year’s hurricane activity is projected to be below the long-term average. NOAA’s forecast calls for 7 to 13 total named storms across the Atlantic basin, counting the two systems that have already formed this season. Of those, 2 to 6 are expected to strengthen into hurricanes, with up to 2 forecast to reach major hurricane strength (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale). Even with a below-average forecast, NDMD officials stress that all coastal and island communities in the hurricane basin need to maintain consistent preparedness, as a single major storm can have devastating impacts regardless of overall seasonal activity levels.
Nevis Disaster Management Department Hosts Hurricane Awareness Drive 2026
