Ernesto’s Unwelcome Visit: Weathering the Storm at Vanilla Paradise Nevis
We welcome visitors to Vanilla Paradise, Nevis's first vanilla farm, and we give tours on Tuesday mornings. But Tuesday, August 13, 2024, brought an uninvited guest: Tropical Storm Ernesto, the fifth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
The entire Caribbean region soon became acutely aware of Ernesto's presence as it tracked northwestward away from the Leeward Islands late on August 13, after making landfall over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Nature's Fury: What is a Tropical Storm?
Tropical storms are nature's way of reminding us that it's not all paradise in the Caribbean. These weather systems, forming over warm tropical oceans, bring thunderstorms and sustained winds between 30 and 75 mph (48 - 120 km/h). While not as intense as hurricanes, they pose serious risks to our island communities.
These weather systems unleash heavy rainfall, triggering flash floods and landslides. Strong winds damage buildings and uproot trees, and storm surges cause coastal erosion. The aftermath often includes power and water outages, affecting agriculture, tourism, and local economies.
Ernesto over the Leeward Islands, including St. Kitts and Nevis. 13th August 2024 (Picture Zoom Earth)
St. Kitts and Nevis: Island life disrupted
Ernesto's impact on St. Kitts and Nevis was significant. With wind gusts up to 33 mph on land and 95 mph (53 and 153 km/h) offshore, our International Airport closed for a day, and the popular ferry service between the islands was suspended. The government declared Tuesday 13th a public holiday, urging people to stay safe at home. Most of us lost power and the internet, and even after Ernesto passed during Wednesday early morning, surge warnings remained in place.
Vanilla Paradise: Battling the Elements
At Vanilla Paradise, we had a turbulent day. My partner, Dr. Patrick Meredith, and I kept busy dealing with wind damage and leaks to our home. Our magnificent Royal Palm braved the storm, but like the others, it looked as if it had been "dragged through a hedge backward." Sadly, we lost a lovely frangipani tree.
On the farm, Ernesto left its mark. One shade house suffered tears, and loose cables need mending. The normally dry ghauts overflowed but we have been careful to dig trenches to divert ground water as much as we can, so the shade houses do not flood. Luckily, we did not lose any of our precious vanilla orchids.
Community Spirit: United in Recovery
We're not alone in our recovery efforts. Many of our neighbours and the wider St. Kitts and Nevis communities are dealing with similar situations. As islanders and keen market gardeners, we're all busy repairing our plots and greenhouses. And grappling with the aftermath, we feel deep solidarity with our neighbours on islands further north, who faced greater challenges as Ernesto intensified into a full hurricane.
Resilience in Paradise: Looking to the Future
We at Vanilla Paradise will once again welcome visitors to our farm for next week’s tour and Ernesto will become one more story in our farm’s already rich experience, a testament to our resilience and adaptability in the face of nature's challenges.
In the end, it's this spirit of perseverance that makes Nevis truly special. We look forward to sharing not just our vanilla, but also our stories of strength and community with all who visit us. Tropical storms need not book a tour!
