Written by barbudanGO
The hurricane season begun 19 days ago. How prepared are we? Barbuda has been the perfect example of how major hurricanes and storm surges can be detrimental where property and livelihoods are concerned. This hurricane season should place every citizen on high alert as to the necessary steps and actions that should be taken to mitigate against property damage and loss of life.
The fact that homes in Barbuda are building with additional reinforcements is one good indication of disaster risk reduction. Additionally, citizens are reminded to keep their property free of debris and loose items which may impact their homes and others during the season. However, these precautionary measures are not enough. Attention has to be placed on Barbuda’s line of defense against storms and hurricanes.
Our geographical location in the Caribbean places us directly in the red zone; we are more susceptible to hurricane impacts. Our location coupled with the breach, the break in the Codrington Lagoon’s sand bar that has not closed since the passage of Hurricane Irma in 2017, magnifies Barbuda’s vulnerability.
The current breach (or opening) of the lagoon’s sand bar is not the first. We have known of two occasions – Hurricane Donna in 1960 and Hurricane Luis in 1995 – that breached this sand bar on the western side of the Codrington Lagoon. However, on both occasions, the breach closed within or little over a year. The current breach has been open for six years and the truth is, it is widening.
Addressing the breach in the Codrington Lagoon’s sand bar requires technical knowledge, expertise, resources and funding. Dialogue has begun with different authoritative agents and organizations but a clear approach to address this point of vulnerability has not been determined.
What does this widening breach mean for villagers of Barbuda? Well, Barbuda lies below sea level. The breach leaves the village of Codrington (which sits along the coast of the lagoon) more vulnerable to storm surges and sea level rise. So the question is, “Can nature-based solutions assist in mitigating against the threat of storm surges and flooding?”
Barbuda naturally has three strong lines of defense. The first one being our coral reef systems; a combination of barrier and patch reefs. Understanding the connection between coastal protection and a healthy thriving reef system, we have imposed fishing regulations to protect critical marine species like the parrotfish that keeps our reefs healthy and thriving. Unbeknownst to the parrot, they are intricately linked to Barbuda’s coastal defense.
Our second line of defense is the sand bar of the Codrington Lagoon. Understanding that this line is currently compromised, our third line of defense, our mangrove forest must be reinforced.
Mangroves act as a protection to our coastline and reduce erosions and storm surge impacts. That is why barbudanGO is currently in the process of developing a conservation site, to serve as a mangrove nursery so that we can repopulate areas that have fallen ill to habitat loss and major hurricane impacts.
