Hurricane Preparedness in the USVI: Be Ready, Stay Powered
Living in the US Virgin Islands means beautiful surroundings—and a front-row seat to hurricane season (June 1–Nov 1). Here's a guide to help you prepare your home, family, and solar-powered systems for the worst, while maintaining resilience when the storm hits.
1. Build Your Basic Preparedness Plan
- Stay Informed: Track storms early via NOAA, local satellite trackers, and island weather experts on Facebook like VI Weather Lady or USVI Tropical Hurricane Weather Station. Download apps like Hurricane Tracker, Wunderground, Windy, MyRadar to monitor storm paths daily through hurricane season.
- Plan & Communicate: Map evacuation routes, identify nearby shelters, confirm pet-friendly options, and keep emergency contacts easily accessible
- Secure Documents: Snapshot IDs, insurance, bank and medical info—store them in watertight containers or cloud backups.
- Stock Necessities: Keep at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, batteries, flashlights, medications, cash (credit machines may fail), plus pet supplies.
- Fortify Your Home: Trim trees near power lines or buildings, secure outdoor furniture and loose items, reinforce your roof with hurricane straps, and install storm shutters or plywood over windows.
- Pre-Storm Chores: Do laundry, clean dishes, and fill your freezer with jugs of ice-water—it doubles as extra food preservation and potable water for later .
- Overflow Preparedness: Pre-fill buckets or your cistern with non-drinking water for flushing, cleaning, or bathing .
2. Solar & Energy Resilience Tips
Your solar panels and backup systems are vital tools in maintaining power after a hurricane.
a. Charge Everything Early
Before the storm hits, fully charge all batteries:
- Solar Battery System-contact IRIE Solar at service@iriesolarvi.com to change your settings
- Portable power banks
- Flashlights
- Cloud cover during storms prevents solar charging—so topping off before the weather turns is crucial
b. Keep Solar Batteries & Generators at the Ready
- Install a solar battery system that withstands hurricane-level winds (around 140 mph).
- Pair with a generator—either gas or preferably solar-powered—for extended outages.
- If you use a generator, stock spare parts, filters, and fuel well before the storm. Make sure the oil is changed, if necessary, get a tune up done.
c. Use Smart Energy Conservation
- Switch to essential-mode: power only critical loads (refrigerator, medical devices, lighting, phones).
- Use lanterns or LED headlamps; swap from heavy fans to battery-operated fans to conserve energy .
- Keep cool longer by keeping your fridge/freezer closed; use ice packs and insulated coolers for quick access.
d. Physically Secure Panels & Equipment
- If you can safely access your solar panels, try to shake each one. If it feels loose, then there is a loose nut and bolt on the panel or racking.
- Check the voltage and power output of the panels on your hybrid inverter or solar controller to ensure all solar panels are wired properly and no wires have become disconnected.
- Make sure you have a surge suppressors and properly grounded connected to your solar panels
- Confirm panels are properly mounted to hurricane-rated structures
- Clear debris around solar arrays and shade panels (trim nearby tree branches).
e. Monitor with Smart Systems
- Use apps to automatically charge solar batteries ahead of storms
- Monitor system health remotely—recharge or adjust as needed before power is cut.
3. When the Storm Hits
- Unplug electronics not in use and you can wrap essential devices (TVs, computers) in trash bags to shield from flooding.
- Run your generator or battery setup sparingly—limit to a few hours daily to conserve fuel and charge necessary power banks.
- Stay Tuned: Use battery/back-up radio and smartphones for official updates. If cell service is down, satellite phones or visiting high-ground (hilltops) spots might restore signals.
4. After the Storm: Recovery & Maintenance
- Reassess your system once safe: check panels for damage/debris, verify battery/inverter integrity.
- Prioritize running essential systems—communication, refrigeration, medical devices.
- Report outages to VIWAPA/WAPA and register damage for FEMA or local relief efforts.
- Replenish supplies, rotate batteries, refill your cistern, and recharge your batteries in preparation for the next event.
In Summary
|
Preparation Step |
Action Item |
|
Planning & Stock |
Weather updates, evacuation routes, water, food, meds, pet supplies, cash |
|
Home & Yard Prep |
Trim trees, secure furniture, reinforce roof, install shutters |
|
Solar System Ready |
Charge batteries early, organize generators, check equipment |
|
During the Storm |
Economize energy, unplug items, monitor updates via radio/app |
|
Post-Storm Recovery |
Inspect, prioritize essentials, report outages, resupply |
With thoughtful preparation, Irie Solar customers can transform their homes into resilient power havens during and after hurricanes. Our team is ready to help you design solar + battery + generator solutions that keep your fridge running, your communications online, and your family safe when every watt matters.
Let’s light the way—before, during, and after the storm.
Phone: 340-209-2916
Email: service@iriesolarvi.com
Website: www.iriesolarvi.com
Facebook: facebook.com/iriesolarvi
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