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Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 12, 2026
— Citizens, businesses and institutions throughout St. Kitts and Nevis are being encouraged to maintain a high level of preparedness as the Federation contends with ongoing drought conditions while navigating the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
The call was made by National Disaster Coordinator Livingston Pemberton during a press conference on June 12, where he underscored the importance of readiness despite forecasts indicating a potentially below-average hurricane season.
“The forecast is suggesting to us that we may have a below-average season, but it only takes one hurricane to change our lives here in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis,” Pemberton said. “As such, we must always be in a state of preparedness.”
While the country is currently in the midst of the hurricane season, Pemberton noted that climate-related challenges are already evident through increasingly dry conditions across the Federation. Forecasts issued by the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) suggest that drought conditions are likely to continue under the influence of the El Niño phenomenon.
According to the National Disaster Coordinator, prolonged drought poses a range of risks to the nation, including impacts on water availability, agriculture, public health, economic performance and overall resilience.
“The reality is that our very economy could be adversely impacted by these drought-like conditions,” he stated, adding that every sector of society is likely to feel the effects in one way or another.
Drawing on historical examples, Pemberton highlighted that drought and hurricane activity are not mutually exclusive events. He referenced the 1992 El Niño episode, which coincided with the formation of Hurricane Andrew, one of the most destructive storms to affect South Florida, as well as Hurricane Joaquin, which caused widespread devastation in The Bahamas.
“Someone might be saying you’re talking about drought and you’re talking about hurricanes. Yes, that is what I’m doing because they are occurring in the same period,” he explained.
NEMA is warning residents against becoming complacent because of predictions of reduced hurricane activity, stressing that disaster preparedness remains a shared national responsibility. The agency is encouraging all sectors to adopt a comprehensive approach to disaster risk management and resilience planning.
Members of the public are advised to review household emergency plans, stay informed through official weather and drought updates, practise water conservation measures and ensure emergency supplies are readily accessible should conditions worsen.
Source: SKNIS
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