Time for a rethink on storm planning

Three lessons learned from our unprecedented hurricane season

The year just gone was one that posed many crises for the Caribbean. The greatest challenges for the region in 2017 were dealt by mother nature herself in an unprecedented hurricane season featuring 17 named storms, 10 of which became hurricanes. The season was the costliest on record, causing an estimated US$ 316.5 billion in damages. Islands overwhelmed by storms months ago are still reeling from loss of shelter, power and fresh water for their inhabitants.

Images of the devastation, seen either first-hand or through the media, will forever be etched in our hearts and minds. Yet, through the fog of emotion and loss, we must be reminded that these storms have brought out the best in our community and several salient lessons have been learned.

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