ED031-04
The U.S. Virgin Islands Storm Strong Program: Increasing Community Hurricane Preparedness through Youth Engagement and Empowerment

Friday, 11 December 2020: 05:50
Virtual
Kristin Grimes1, Allie Durdall2, Howard Forbes Jr.3, Jarvon Stout4, Kristina Edwards5, Karen Peterman6, Michael Charles7, Elisa Lacatena4, Imani Daniel8 and Zola Roper2, (1)University of the Virgin Islands, Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, St Thomas, United States, (2)University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, United States, (3)Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service, St. Thomas, United States, (4)Virgin Islands Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, St. Thomas, United States, (5)Virgin Islands Department of Planning & Natural Resources, Division of Coastal Zone Management, St. Thomas, United States, (6)Karen Peterman Consulting, Co., Durham, United States, (7)All Saints Cathedral School, St. Thomas, United States, (8)St. Thomas Recovery Team, St. Thomas, United States
Abstract:
Formed in 2018 in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, two category 5 hurricanes that made landfall in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) in 2017, the USVI Storm Strong Program is the territory’s first community-based, hurricane hazard preparedness and leadership program. With funding from the NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Program, this 5-year project engages underrepresented minority youth and their families to become empowered as environmental leaders within their communities. The program is modeled after the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit framework. Participants: (1) explore the science and hazards associated with hurricanes, (2) assess their communities’ vulnerabilities and associated risks, (3) evaluate personal and community assets and options to increase resilience, (4) prioritize and plan for events occurring before, during, and after a storm, and (5) take action through development of Community Transfer Projects (CTPs) which turn information gained through an 8-week workshop into actions to increase individual and community resilience, sharing knowledge and actions with the broader USVI community and beyond. In 2019, 32 people participated in the workshop and completed two CTPs (hurricane supply distribution kit giveaways, water and mold safety cards) while two are still under development (hurricane community cook book and hand tools training). The 2020 workshop was postponed due to the global pandemic, but the USVI Storm Strong Program created a series of remote learning activities (webinar series, hurricane preparedness drawing contest, disaster preparedness supply list and scavenger hunt, and computer game) that translated some of the in-person workshop activities into an online format and reinforced main messages. The USVI Storm Strong Program improves environmental literacy and extreme weather hazard preparedness in the territory, through new and strengthened strategic partnerships and the development of a long-term, high-impact, community-based program.
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