The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and the Dominica Meteorological Service have stepped up their public guidance as the Commonwealth of Dominica moves through the peak weeks of the Atlantic hurricane season, calling on residents to keep their emergency plans current and to act on official warnings without delay.
In a joint advisory, the two agencies reminded households across the island — from Roseau and Portsmouth to the Kalinago Territory and the southern villages — to confirm that their emergency supplies are in place and that they know the safest route to a designated shelter. The ODM stressed that vigilance colours used in its bulletins carry specific meanings and should be followed closely: green indicates that conditions are being monitored, yellow signals that residents should be ready to act, orange means that preparations should be completed, and red requires immediate action.
The Meteorological Service said it continues to track weather systems across the Atlantic and will issue bulletins as conditions develop. Residents are advised to rely on official channels for updates rather than unverified reports circulating on social media, particularly during fast-moving weather events.
Officials also urged families to check on elderly relatives, neighbours living alone, and persons with mobility challenges, noting that a small island community depends on these informal networks during emergencies. Fishermen and small craft operators were reminded to monitor marine forecasts before putting to sea, while farmers were encouraged to secure livestock and protect crops where possible.
The advisory comes as the island continues to strengthen its disaster readiness systems, including shelter management, early warning communications, and community-level preparedness training. The ODM has consistently emphasised that preparedness is a shared responsibility and that early action saves lives.
Residents who have not yet done so are encouraged to review their household emergency plans, confirm the location of their nearest shelter, and ensure they have sufficient supplies of water, non-perishable food, medication, and batteries. The ODM said further updates will be issued as the situation warrants.
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