Latest additions to the knowledge base

The British Virgin Islands will be financing the re-establishment and upgrade of a territory-wide multi hazard early warning system to the tune of U.S. $1.5 million. By the end of the project, the Department of Disaster Management will have installed nearly 400 systems with some form of warning communication.

In a capacity strengthening exercise, the World Food Programme (WFP) helped the British Virgin Islands form a roadmap of four areas for engagement in disaster preparedness: Shock Responsive Social Protection coordination, data management and targeting, delivery mechanisms, and design. The training is part of the WFP's ongoing work in social protection programming.

The British Virgin Islands will introduce the Livelihood Protection Policy, a new risk reduction micro-insurance mechanism designed to protect the income of persons most vulnerable to weather related incidents. Persons targeted include fishermen, farmers, taxi operators and other small business owners whose livelihoods were severely impacted by the 2017 disasters.

A new UNISDR study of the private sectors in Dominica and the British Virgin Islands finds that even though most businesses had disaster continuity plans, Maria and Irma revealed that they were unprepared for a level 5 hurricane. Businesses must recognize

A new UNISDR study of the private sectors in Dominica and the British Virgin Islands finds that even though most businesses had disaster continuity plans, Maria and Irma revealed that they were unprepared for a level 5 hurricane. Businesses must recognize inconsistencies in information, resource access, education, and capacity building to enhance their resilience.

Small Island Developing States are struggling to raise expensive adaptation funds, and the British Virgin Islands are particularly vulnerable because they cannot access financing from the Green Climate Fund due to their status as an overseas territory. Once Brexit is complete, the Islands also won't receive funding from the European Union.

Burdened by costly fuel imports and a power grid destroyed by Hurricane Irma, the British Virgin Islands are now moving toward solar and geothermal alternatives to better withstand future disasters. Projects include installing solar panels and paying residents for surplus renewable energy they feed into the electricity grid.

Small islands, especially in the Caribbean, face a harsh new reality as storms of unprecedented ferocity threaten livelihoods. Global collaboration and private sector investment are needed to help islands bolster resilience in the face of growing climate threats, especially considering their huge burdens of debt.