In brief
As the Caribbean enters peak hurricane season, the memories of devastating storms like Hurricane Irma loom large. Home insurance costs have surged by up to 40%, leaving many residents without coverage. Local experts attribute this rise to the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes combined with small populations that limit insurance profitability.
For some Barbudans, thunderstorms still trigger flashbacks of the night in September 2017 when they lost everything they owned to Hurricane Irma's devastating winds.
Eight years on, while memories may be close to hand, home insurance for many on Barbuda and other islands in the Caribbean's hurricane belt is more prohibitively expensive than ever.
Across the region premiums have gone through the roof in the past two years, surging by as much as 40% on some islands, according to industry figures.
Experts blame a perfect storm of increasing risk – as the region sees worsening and more rapidly intensifying cyclones – yet tiny populations of people to pay for policies, equating to poor returns for insurance companies.
Dwight Benjamin's Barbuda home was one of few left relatively undamaged by Irma. After the storm, he invested in a one-room extension topped with a concrete roof that will serve as a shelter for his family should disaster strike again.
I think the house should be sound enough but that's my added protection, he says.
With peak hurricane season now in full swing, Dwight is among many Caribbean people anxiously monitoring weather platforms for activity in the Atlantic. Should a system head his way, he will do as he did during Irma – hope and pray.
I've never had insurance; most Barbudans don't really think it's worth it. It's just an added expense to the meager resources we have, he explains.
Plus, we believe in what we have built and that it should be able to withstand the weather.
...The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October. The northern Caribbean nations, such as Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic, are among the most at risk of a direct hit.
For many Barbudans, this time of year will always bring trepidation. Dwight was among dozens who recently attended a Hurricane Irma remembrance service at the island's Pentecostal Church.
It was very touching and brought back a lot of memories, he says. This time of year, we keep an eye on the weather and our fingers crossed. But we are resilient people and we know how to survive.
