Preparing for Hurricane Season with IsraAID Dominica

At IsraAID, we’re no stranger to hurricanes. But as we continue to see the effects of the climate crisis, this year’s hurricane season is projected to be one of the most destructive on record. Hurricane Beryl has already shattered previous records as the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded. Island nations are particularly vulnerable to the accelerating pace of climate change. 

As we head into the peak of hurricane season, we’re keeping a close eye on the Eastern Caribbean, where our IsraAID Dominica team stands ready to support their community and their neighbors in a crisis.

IsraAID arrived in Dominica in 2017 following Hurricane Maria, which damaged over 90% of the buildings on the island. What began as an emergency response – aiding with cleanup, ensuring access to safe water and child-friendly spaces – developed into a long-term mission with a focus on resilience. 

Dominica is a small Caribbean Island with a population of about 70,000 and is particularly vulnerable to climate and natural hazards. When a hurricane or disaster strikes, communities may lose access to safe water. Homes may be damaged, and people may get hurt and not have immediate access to medical services. Roads and communication lines can be cut off, making it even harder to access help. 

To make sure that Dominicans are as prepared as possible for a potentially brutal season, we’ve been working to strengthen response capacity across existing community structures. IsraAID Dominica is providing trainings, developing emergency plans, equipping communities with essential gear, running emergency drills, and raising public awareness on essential emergency issues. 

One of the ways we do this is by focusing on schools – which can be centers of resilience for the entire community. Five elementary and eight preschools participated in a program to create and update School Emergency Operations Plans. Through a series of dedicated workshops, students and teachers were able to put a plan in place or make sure that their existing plans were in place. Staff and students also participated in CPR and basic first aid sessions, giving them the skills that could help save lives in emergencies.

Having a plan and the knowledge to carry it out is only the first step. Communities need resources and practice to navigate emergencies smoothly. That’s why IsraAID not only provides essential emergency materials – like water filters and handheld radios – but established a series of emergency drills for schools. Drills covered a range of different potential scenarios  – including tsunamis, earthquakes, and fires. These drills involve the entire community that surrounds the school. Exercises included not only school staff and students, but fire officers, youth volunteers, Ministry of Education staff, and environmental health officers.

IsraAID also worked with a local youth movement to help adolescents get engaged and gain the skills they need to serve their community in an emergency. Youths participated in a variety of trainings and learned how to pass that knowledge on and train others in topics like first-aid training, use of water filters, and emergency communications. Some 25 adolescents received their Amateur radio operator licenses and personal handheld radios. The youth movement also received the equipment they need to set up a base station. 

After seven years, IsraAID Dominica has gained a lot of experience in preparing for and responding to emergencies on the island. Now we’re ready to share our experience with our neighbors. When Hurricane Beryl hit Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, IsraAID Dominica immediately arrived to help assess the needs on the ground. We’re now working together with key stakeholders, including the Prime Minister, and offering our expertise on long-term recovery and resilience in psychosocial support for adults and frontline workers, child-friendly spaces, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, education, and shelter.

As the climate crisis continues to take a toll on island nations, IsraAID is ready to share everything we’ve learned with partners across the region. Preparation, collaboration, and ongoing support are critical to help build a more climate resilient future. IsraAID stands committed to that vision, no matter how strong the storm.