Around 4:00pm on Tuesday it was announced that the Council of Ministers had decided to lift a mandatory business closure (see related story) announced early in the morning. Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs did so due to the proximity of Tropical Storm Philippe.
She surprised many because the country had not been placed under a storm watch or warning, only a flood alert. Nevertheless, the threat of torrential rainfall and thunderstorms behind the system prompted government’s order measure.
In the end these did not materialise here, but that doesn’t mean there was no risk. After all, although the cyclone’s centre passed north, most of the inclement weather stayed to the south and in that sense the island undoubtedly had a narrow escape.
Antigua recorded sustained winds of 60 miles per hour and seven inches of precipitation in three hours at one location, while Barbados reported 140 lightning strikes within 15 minutes. Both countries and Dominica suffered heavy showers, severe thunderstorms and landslides.
The question can be asked whether this scenario should not have been foreseen and acted on already Monday night, but fact is that Philippe proved to be quite unpredictable. For one thing, its forecast closest point ranged from 600 to less than 30 miles and was expected to occur anywhere between last Friday and Tuesday.
Luckily schools are on mid-term break and day-cares were told not to open since Monday evening. That was not the case for the business closure, which consequently led to a bit of confusion.
As example, some shopkeepers scrambling to comply had to deal with crowds still wanting to come in and buy what they needed. Police apparently closed down grocery stores that stayed open too long.
All in all, the overriding sentiment seemingly remains one of gratitude, because things could have easily turned out considerably worse. There is thus a lot of be thankful for.
