Hurricane Season Preparedness for Teachers in the USVI: Home, Classroom and Career

For most of the year, weather in the Virgin Islands is the stuff of postcards. But every teacher who moves to the territory needs to take hurricane season seriously. In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria — both Category 5 storms — struck the islands within two weeks of each other. Homes, power lines and schools were badly damaged; many students attended school in shared buildings on split schedules for a long time afterward, and rebuilding continued for years with federal support.

Most seasons pass without a direct hit. Preparation is what lets islanders ride out the ones that don't. This guide covers what educators in particular should do — at home, in the classroom and in their careers.

Understand the season and the forecasts

The official source for Atlantic storm forecasts is the NOAA National Hurricane Center. Learn to read its products before you need them:

• Tropical Storm / Hurricane Watch: tropical-storm or hurricane conditions are possible in the area, typically within 48 hours.
• Tropical Storm / Hurricane Warning: those conditions are expected, typically within 36 hours. Finish preparations now.
• The forecast cone shows the probable path of the storm's center — impacts such as wind, rain and surge often extend well beyond it.

Locally, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) issues alerts, shelter information and instructions. Sign up for its alerts as soon as you arrive, and follow local radio — battery-powered radio is often the most reliable source when power and cell networks are down.

Your home: the two-week kit

Federal guidance at Ready.gov is a great starting point. On an island, where supplies arrive by ship and power restoration can take a long time after a major storm, plan for longer self-sufficiency. Build your kit gradually from June so you are not competing for batteries in a pre-storm rush.

Choosing a storm-ready home

When you rent, ask about hurricane shutters or impact windows, roof type and age, the condition of the cistern and whether there is a generator or solar with batteries. Concrete construction and a location outside flood zones and away from steep, unstable slopes are all advantages. Our cost-of-living guide lists more landlord questions.

Protect your documents, data and career

For teachers, a storm can threaten more than furniture. Your certification file, transcripts, lesson plans and student data all need protecting.

• Waterproof document pouch with passport or birth certificate, ID, Social Security card, certificates, insurance policies and lease.
• Encrypted cloud backup of everything in the pouch, plus your professional portfolio and lesson plans.
• Offline copies of key teaching materials on a USB drive in the pouch.
• Follow school data rules. Store student information only in approved systems — never on personal drives — so it survives and stays private.
• Photograph your belongings before the season for insurance claims.

Insurance: read the fine print

Renter's insurance is inexpensive compared with the cost of replacing everything you own. In the islands, pay close attention to:

• Windstorm coverage — sometimes excluded or subject to a separate, higher deductible.
• Flood coverage — usually not included in standard policies. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program is available in the territory.
• Waiting periods — policies often cannot be bought or changed once a storm is approaching, so arrange coverage as soon as you sign a lease.
• Additional living expenses — coverage for temporary housing if your home becomes uninhabitable.

In the classroom: before, during and after

Before a storm

• Learn your school's emergency plan, evacuation routes and communication chain on day one.
• Keep an up-to-date, printed class roster and emergency contacts where your administration directs.
• Store equipment and paper materials off the floor and away from windows; use sealed plastic tubs.
• Back up digital lesson plans and grades in approved systems.
• Talk to students about preparedness in an age-appropriate, calm way — many will remember 2017 vividly.

If schools close

After major storms, schools may close for days or weeks and may reopen with shared campuses or double sessions. Remote learning depends on power and connectivity, which may not be available. Have a low-tech continuity plan: printed work packets, reading lists and projects that students can do without internet.

After the storm

Children process disasters in different ways. Expect anxiety, grief, fatigue and behavior changes — in students and in yourself. Trauma-informed practices matter: predictable routines, opportunities to talk and draw, patience with late work, and referral to counselors when needed. Look after your own well-being too; you cannot pour from an empty cup.

Make a personal evacuation decision

Most island residents shelter in place in a sturdy home. Some choose to leave the territory before a major storm, especially with young children or medical needs. Decide in advance what would make you leave, how you would pay for flights at short notice and who would check on your home. Always follow official instructions from VITEMA.

A preparedness calendar for teachers

Resilience is part of island life

Hurricane season can sound frightening, but Virgin Islanders are among the most resilient people you will ever meet. After 2017, neighbors cleared roads together, shared generators and cooked for one another, and teachers found creative ways to keep children learning. Preparing well is how you become part of that community rather than a burden on it.

Schools and teacher cohorts can book our Professional Development Workshops, which include a hurricane-season readiness session for staff. For your own move, start with the relocation checklist.

Sources: NOAA National Hurricane Center; VITEMA; Ready.gov; FEMA public information on 2017 recovery in the USVI. This article is general information, not emergency instructions — always follow official guidance. Last reviewed September 2026.

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