Barbuda's Resilience: Irma's Impact And The Island's Fightback

Hurricane Irma, the most powerful Atlantic Ocean storm in recorded history, wreaked havoc on the Caribbean island of Barbuda in September 2017. With winds of up to 185 mph, the Category 5 hurricane caused widespread destruction, leaving the island “barely habitable”. Irma's impact on Barbuda was profound, with an estimated 90% of buildings and vehicles destroyed, and a tragic loss of life, including that of a two-year-old child. The storm's aftermath saw the evacuation of Barbuda's entire population to its sister island, Antigua, as the island's infrastructure—power grids, phone lines, and water treatment plants—was left in ruins.

Barbuda's infrastructure was devastated by Hurricane Irma

On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma swept across the Caribbean island of Barbuda, causing devastating damage to its infrastructure. The storm's eye passed directly over the island, resulting in powerful wall winds, storm surges, and flooding. As a Category 5 hurricane, Irma left no building on the island untouched. The power grid, phone lines, and water treatment plant were all devastated, leaving residents without basic services. The hurricane also destroyed schools, churches, and businesses, with 95% of structures on the island damaged or destroyed.

The impact of the hurricane on Barbuda's infrastructure was immediate and far-reaching. The power grid was knocked out, leaving the entire island without electricity. Phone lines were downed, cutting off communication with the outside world. The water treatment plant was also affected, contaminating important water supplies and leaving residents without access to clean water. Additionally, the island's hospital, schools, and hotels were damaged or destroyed, impacting the health, education, and tourism sectors.

The destruction of infrastructure had a significant impact on the lives of Barbuda's residents. The lack of power, water, and communication services made relief and recovery efforts more challenging. With their homes damaged or destroyed, residents were evacuated to the neighboring island of Antigua, leaving Barbuda temporarily deserted. The government of Antigua and Barbuda pledged to invest in redeveloping the island, recognizing the extent of the disaster.

The road to recovery for Barbuda was long and challenging. The government worked to address the most urgent needs, such as providing food and water to the affected population and assessing the damage to livestock and buildings. They also focused on improving disaster risk information and emergency communications to better prepare for future events. However, the scale of the devastation meant that the recovery process was slow, and many residents faced the difficult decision of whether to return to the island or start anew elsewhere.

The impact of Hurricane Irma on Barbuda's infrastructure was profound and long-lasting. The storm caused widespread destruction, leaving the island without essential services and displacing its residents. The recovery process was complex and required significant investment and time to rebuild what had been lost. The resilience of the Barbudan people and the support from the international community were crucial in the island's journey towards rehabilitation and rebuilding.

The island's residents were evacuated to Antigua

Hurricane Irma caused devastation in Barbuda in 2017, and the island's residents were evacuated to Antigua. The storm hit Barbuda at about 185mph, causing the deaths of a two-year-old boy and damaging an estimated 90% of properties. The prime minister ordered an evacuation of all 1,800 residents to Antigua, the much larger sister island of Barbuda, which suffered only minor damage.

Antigua is the larger of the two islands that make up the state of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located approximately 30 miles north of Barbuda and is typically a popular vacation spot. However, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, it served as a refuge for those fleeing the devastated island.

The evacuation was prompted by fears that Barbuda would be hit again, this time by Hurricane Jose, which was following a similar path as Irma. The government urged residents to evacuate voluntarily, and vessels like the Excellee, normally used for tourism, became life-saving transport for families escaping the destruction.

During the evacuation, residents faced challenges such as a closed airport due to storm damage. The port became a busy site as residents, with a priority given to children, the sick, and the elderly, sought to leave the island.

While some residents of Barbuda initially returned to the island after the immediate threat had passed, many continued to stay in Antigua or relocate abroad. The slow recovery and challenges in rebuilding further complicated the return process, and some questioned if people would ever return to Barbuda.

The hurricane's impact on wildlife and nature

Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that caused catastrophic damage in Barbuda. The hurricane's impact on the island's wildlife and nature was significant, and its effects are still being felt today.

Barbuda, known for its pristine beaches and natural beauty, is home to a diverse range of animal and bird species. The island's wildlife includes free-roaming horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, and roosters, as well as dogs and cats. The impact of Hurricane Irma on these animals was immediate and severe. In the aftermath of the storm, animals scrounged for food in the remnants of grocery and clothing stores, with pig carcasses left exposed and animal feces littering the streets. The evacuation of residents left the animals without a source of support, and the prolonged absence of humans from the island further disrupted the natural balance.

In addition to its impact on domestic and farm animals, Hurricane Irma also affected Barbuda's native wildlife. The island is known for its unique bird species, including the frigate bird, which inhabits the Codrington Lagoon. The hurricane's strong winds and storm surges would have undoubtedly disrupted bird habitats and nesting sites, though the extent of the impact on bird populations is unclear.

One of the most famous animals unique to Barbuda is the endangered Key deer, a very small subspecies of the white-tailed deer. These deer are adapted to survive hurricanes and are strong swimmers, but their habitat was hit by some of the worst winds and rain of Irma. The full extent of the impact on the Key deer population is unknown, but their already diminishing habitat may have sustained serious damage, particularly due to saltwater intrusion from the storm surge.

Barbuda is also home to the third-largest coral barrier reef system in the world, the Florida Reef Tract. Coral reefs provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife, such as spiny lobster, goliath grouper, and parrotfish. Large hurricanes like Irma can break coral branches and disrupt coral colonies, and the heavy rainfall associated with the storm can increase sediment and nutrient-polluted runoff, further stressing the corals. The ability of corals to recover from such disturbances has been compromised by rising water temperatures, pollution, and overfishing, with less than 10% of the reef now covered with living coral.

The impact of Hurricane Irma on Barbuda's wildlife and nature was significant and far-reaching. The storm not only affected the island's animal and bird populations but also had lasting consequences for its marine ecosystems, particularly the coral reefs. The slow recovery of the island's infrastructure and the prolonged absence of residents have further compounded the challenges faced by its native wildlife. While some species have proven resilient, the full extent of the ecological impact may take years to understand fully.

The rebuilding process and challenges

Hurricane Irma caused devastation in Barbuda in 2017, and the island is still in the process of recovery and rebuilding. The storm destroyed around 90% of the island's buildings and infrastructure, including the power grid, phone lines, and water treatment plant. The entire population of Barbuda, approximately 1,600-1,800 people, was evacuated to the nearby island of Antigua, and many lost their homes and possessions.

The rebuilding process has been challenging and slow. Initially, the focus was on providing basic necessities and addressing safety concerns. The Red Cross brought medical kits, enabling the consulting and emergency rooms at the Thomas Hanna hospital to reopen. Samaritan's Purse provided equipment and water treatment units. The government also used fogging equipment to control insects and tried to reestablish phone connections and power using generators.

However, the long-term rebuilding process has faced several obstacles. Few people on the island had house insurance, and many rented their homes, leading to uncertainty about their role in the rebuilding process. The evacuation also slowed down the recovery, as residents were not able to return to their properties immediately and assess the damage. Additionally, the complicated land tenure system and political tensions between Barbuda and Antigua further complicated the process.

Despite these challenges, life is slowly returning to the island. By February 2019, most of the residents had returned to Barbuda, and businesses such as a restaurant, a bakery, and a supermarket had reopened, although they were running on generators due to the lack of electricity. The Barbudan People's Movement, which sits in opposition on the Barbuda council, has been critical of the government's response and has accused them of using the hurricane to consolidate power over land.

The rebuilding process has been a difficult and emotional journey for the residents of Barbuda. Many have lost their homes and possessions, and the slow recovery has raised questions about the role of the government and the complexities of land ownership. However, the resilience of the Barbudan people and the support from aid organizations have been crucial in the rebuilding process.

The role of aid agencies and the government in the recovery effort

Hurricane Irma caused widespread devastation to the island of Barbuda, with maximum winds of 295 km/h, record rainfall, and a storm surge of nearly three meters high. The storm's eye passed directly over the island, resulting in wall winds, storm surges, and flooding. The recovery effort has been challenging, with few people on the island having house insurance, and many renting their homes.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda requested support from the World Bank Group and the EU, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the World Bank/Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) to undertake a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). The PDNA estimated losses and damages to amount to $155 million, with recovery and reconstruction needs totalling $222 million. Following the completion of the PDNA report, the project supported the government in its recovery planning and programming of reconstruction funding, including mobilizing resources from financial institutions and development partners.

Aid agencies such as the Red Cross and Samaritan's Purse have also played a crucial role in the recovery effort. The Red Cross brought medical kits, enabling the consulting and emergency rooms at the Thomas Hanna hospital to reopen. Samaritan's Purse provided equipment and water treatment units. In addition, the Chinese government funded a Post-Disaster Roof Restoration project, repairing 250 house roofs towards the recovery of Barbuda. This project allowed hundreds of people to return home to the island.

However, the recovery process has been slow, and some Barbudans have criticised the government for not doing enough to support the rebuilding effort. There have been allegations of "disaster capitalism", with the government accused of using the hurricane to push through policies and projects that would otherwise face resistance. There are also concerns about a lack of transparency in the use of relief funds, with attempts to trace the allocation of funds met with resistance or silence.

Overall, the recovery effort in Barbuda has been a collaborative effort between the government, international aid agencies, and local communities. While there have been challenges and setbacks, the support provided has been essential in helping the island rebuild and recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma.

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