BEFORE the Storm: Preparedness

The best time to prepare is before hurricane season begins. Use this section during the blue-skies months (November–May) to get your household ready. Print this page and use it as your personal checklist.

Hurricane Season Calendar

Atlantic Hurricane Season: June 1 – November 30

May: Review and update your hurricane plan. Check supplies. Trim trees.

June–August: Peak preparation. Final check of supplies. Monitor weather.

September–October: Peak hurricane activity. Stay alert. Keep gas tank full.

November: Season ends, but stay prepared through the month.

December–April: Blue-skies months. Restock, train, volunteer.

Hurricane Season Calendar
Table of Contents
Household Preparedness Checklist
Preparedness Resources for Families with Children
Preparedness Resources & Assistance
Can't Afford to Prepare?
Business Preparedness
Before Hurricane Season
After a Disaster
Employee Support & Preparedness
Critical Business Documents to Secure

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Household Preparedness Checklist

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Preparedness Resources for Families with Children

Preparedness Resources & Assistance

Where to get help, supplies, and information to prepare your household:

Resource Name	What They Offer	Category	Phone	Website	Cost	When to Use	Additional Notes	Location / Availability
Amateur (Ham) Radio License	Radio communication when cell service fails - study groups and testing	Training & Certification			Varies	Blue-Skies MonthsYear-Round	Search 'Virgin Islands Amateur Radio Club' or ask at LCS	Local ham radio clubs
American Red Cross USVI	First Aid/CPR training, disaster preparedness classes, shelter information	Government AgencyTraining & Certification	340-776-8987	redcross.org/local/virgin-islands	Varies	Blue-Skies MonthsYear-Round	Some free community classes available	USVI-Wide
CDC Disaster Preparedness	Health and safety guidance, medication management, special needs planning	Digital Resource		cdc.gov/disasters	Free	Blue-Skies MonthsPre-SeasonYear-Round	Especially helpful for seniors and people with medical needs	Online
CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)	Free disaster response training including first aid, fire safety, light search & rescue	Training & CertificationGovernment Agency	340-774-2244	vitema.vi.gov	Free	Blue-Skies MonthsYear-Round	Usually 20 hours over several weeks	USVI-Wide, offered through VITEMA
Emergency Food & Water Storage	Non-perishable food, water storage containers	Supplies & MaterialsLocal Business/Supplier			Paid	Blue-Skies MonthsPre-Season	Stock up gradually during blue-skies months to avoid panic buying. Rotate supplies annually; check expiration dates each May.	Supermarkets, hardware stores
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)	Free preparedness guides, emergency planning templates, mobile app with alerts	Government AgencyDigital Resource		ready.gov/hurricanes	Free	Blue-Skies MonthsPre-SeasonHurricane SeasonDuring StormPost-Storm Recovery	Download 'FEMA' app for alerts and preparedness tips	Online, mobile app (iOS & Android)
FEMA Hurricane Preparedness Guide	Supply lists, family plan templates, evacuation guides	Digital Resource		ready.gov/hurricanes	Free	Blue-Skies MonthsPre-SeasonYear-Round	Comprehensive free guide	Online - downloadable PDFs
First Aid & CPR Certification	First Aid and CPR training and certification	Training & Certification			Varies	Blue-Skies MonthsYear-Round	Some free community classes available	American Red Cross USVI, local health clinics
First Aid Supplies	First aid kits, medical supplies, prescription refills	Supplies & MaterialsLocal Business/Supplier			Paid	Blue-Skies MonthsPre-SeasonYear-Round	Pre-made kits available but often cheaper to build your own. Ask pharmacy about 90-day prescription supplies.	Pharmacies, supermarkets, online retailers
Generators & Fuel	Generators, fuel containers, fuel stabilizer	Supplies & MaterialsLocal Business/Supplier			Paid	Blue-Skies MonthsPre-Season	Never run generators indoors or near windows	Hardware and equipment retailers (St. John & St. Thomas)

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Can't Afford to Prepare?

Many preparedness steps are free or low-cost:

Build your stockpile gradually (one extra item per grocery trip)
Use containers you already have for water storage
Attend free CERT training for emergency skills
Check with LCS about assistance programs for vulnerable households
Coordinate with neighbors to share costs (bulk plywood purchases, generator sharing)
Ask about payment plans at hardware stores for storm shutters
Contact Catholic Charities to see if they can offer assistance with canned goods and non-perishable food items for your emergency supply

Business Preparedness

If you own a small business on St. John:

Before Hurricane Season

Back up all data to the cloud (financial records, customer data, inventory)

Photograph your inventory and equipment

Review insurance coverage — business interruption, flood, wind damage

Create a business continuity plan: How will you communicate with employees? When will you reopen?

Secure or move inventory to higher ground or inland storage

Protect equipment: Cover with tarps, move electronics away from windows

Have cash reserves to cover expenses if you can't operate for weeks

Establish relationships with suppliers in multiple locations — diversify your supply chain so you're not dependent on one source that might also be impacted

Create a "storm mode" inventory strategy — stock up on fast-moving items before season, reduce slow-moving inventory that could be damaged

Develop a generator plan — purchase, rent, or arrange generator-sharing with neighboring businesses for critical operations

Waterproof your space — install flood barriers, sandbags, or temporary berms if you're in a flood-prone area

Secure a line of credit before disaster strikes — it's much harder to get financing after damage occurs

Build relationships with contractors NOW — have a list of electricians, plumbers, roofers, and general contractors you can call immediately after a storm

Join the St. John Business Alliance or local chamber — collective advocacy and resource-sharing is powerful during recovery

Create social media templates for disaster communications — draft posts you can quickly customize about closure, damage assessment, reopening

Establish a "buddy system" with another business owner — check on each other's properties and share resources

Pre-arrange temporary workspace — identify locations where you could operate temporarily if your primary location is damaged

Stock emergency supplies for your business — tarps, plywood, sandbags, battery-powered tools, cleaning supplies

Create a vendor/client communication list — have email addresses and phone numbers organized so you can notify everyone quickly

Secure a post office box or alternative mail location — mail delivery may be disrupted for months

Register your business with VITEMA — they maintain databases of businesses for targeted recovery assistance

Consider business interruption insurance riders — standard policies may not cover all scenarios; read the fine print

Document your "before" state — take comprehensive video walkthroughs of your entire operation for insurance purposes

Identify which equipment is most critical — prioritize protecting items that are expensive, hard to replace, or essential to operations

Have a plan for perishables — if you have food inventory, know how you'll preserve, donate, or dispose of it if power fails

Create a recovery timeline template — estimate how long each phase of reopening will take so you can communicate realistic expectations

Develop a scaled operations plan — determine what services you could offer at 25%, 50%, 75% capacity during recovery

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Creative Business Continuity Ideas:

Partner with mainland businesses to handle online orders or customer service during your closure • Offer "recovery vouchers" — sell discounted future services now to generate immediate cash flow • Create a "we're closed but..." plan — can you sell products from your home? Offer consulting? Provide mobile services? • Build a "resilience fund" — set aside a percentage of profits during good months specifically for disaster recovery • Cross-promote with other businesses — agree to refer customers to each other if one is operational and the other isn't • Establish a mainland contact person who can manage communications, process online orders, or coordinate shipping if you're offline • Create a "community hub" backup plan — if you have generator power and space, could you offer phone charging, wifi, or basic supplies to neighbors? (Builds incredible goodwill)

After a Disaster

Document all damage with photos/video
Contact your insurance company immediately
Register for FEMA assistance and SBA disaster loans at disasterassistance.gov
Check with the VI Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs for local business recovery programs
Visit the Grants section of the LCS Resource Hub for business relief funds
Stay in touch with your employees — create a phone tree or group chat to check in and coordinate
Communicate with customers via social media about your status and reopening plans
Join local business recovery networks — other business owners are valuable resources and support
Consider temporary/mobile operations if your physical location is damaged (pop-ups, online sales, partnerships)
Apply for disaster unemployment assistance for your employees if they can't work
Keep detailed records of all recovery expenses — save every receipt for insurance and tax purposes
Reach out to suppliers early to get back in the queue for restocking
Check if your landlord has insurance that might cover some business interruption
Don't rush to reopen unsafely — prioritize structural integrity and employee safety
Consider offering services to the community (even at reduced capacity) — it builds goodwill and maintains cash flow

Employee Support & Preparedness

Create an employee emergency contact list — include out-of-territory contacts

Help employees prepare — share this guide, offer time off for hurricane prep

Establish clear communication protocol — how will you reach each other during/after a storm?

Plan for payroll continuity — can you pay employees even if closed temporarily?

Cross-train staff so critical functions can continue if someone evacuates

Know which employees have special needs or dependents that might affect their availability

Critical Business Documents to Secure

Tax returns and financial statements (last 3 years)
Business licenses and permits
Lease or property deed
Insurance policies (all types)
Employee records and payroll information
Contracts with vendors and clients
Banking and loan information
Inventory lists with values
Equipment manuals and warranty information
Computer passwords and access codes

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Pro Tip for Business Owners: Create a "grab and go" waterproof box with USB drives containing all critical digital files, plus paper copies of your most essential documents. Store it somewhere you can access quickly if you need to evacuate, and keep a duplicate off-island with a trusted contact.