Stay Prepared: Don’t Let the Quiet Fool You

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GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – It’s been a slow start to the 2025 hurricane season, with three named storms—Andrea, Barry, and Chantal—having formed. However, none have posed any immediate threat to the Bahamas. While this may seem like good news, Troy McIntosh, City Manager at GBPA, emphasizes that now is not the time to get comfortable.

Troy McIntosh – City Manager, GBPA
“You’re preparing all summer long or all year round. Make sure that if trees are there, the relevant authorities, in this case, the power company, if it’s affecting them or the utilities companies are aware of matters that need to be addressed by them—that is their concern. But if it is your homeowner concern, just make sure you work along with your contractors.”
“And then secondly, making sure your home is insured.”

Though the season’s energy is lagging behind normal, with NOAA predicting up to 19 named storms, McIntosh stresses that preparedness must become a lifestyle, especially with the warmest ocean temperatures still ahead.

Troy McIntosh – City Manager, GBPA
“A lot of it is education…putting the necessary things in place to make sure you have the tools and not wait until the last minute.”
“People don’t prioritize it because of culture… people wait until the last minute to go to the store and put the necessary things in place.”

As the peak hurricane months of August through October approach, McIntosh insists that this mindset has to change.

Troy McIntosh – City Manager, GBPA
“You have to keep it to the forefront… don’t wait until you’ve been impacted and say, ‘Hey you know what? I shoulda, coulda, woulda.’ It has to be a habit… a discipline and a habit to make sure that I’m going to do the small things.”

McIntosh believes consistent messaging, and even repetition, is key.

Troy McIntosh – City Manager, GBPA
“If you say something or read something or hear something seven times, you begin to remember it… Maybe it’s not frequent enough in the forefront of our minds that we’re able to remember these are things that need to happen, not just seasonal, but continuously.”

And while there’s always hope that the season passes quietly, McIntosh remains cautious.

Troy McIntosh – City Manager, GBPA
“I’m hoping that this season is not impactful in a negative way…that yeah, we may get some systems…but nothing like a Dorian or nothing like a Matthew. Some people may not remember that.”
“But it is my hope that, like the last two years, we remain unimpacted.”