Barbados hurricane guide¶

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) coordinates Barbados's National Emergency Management System, which includes 30 District Emergency Organisations run by community volunteers. The Barbados Meteorological Services provides forecasts and weather information for the island. DEM says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and people along the coast should be alert for storm surge.

Checked on October 3, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from the Department of Emergency Management (DEM). In a life threatening emergency, call 211 for police, 311 for fire, or 511 for an ambulance.

What to know in Barbados¶

DEM says a national emergency shelter should be your last resort. Arrange ahead of time to stay with family or friends if you have to leave home.
The Fire Service Dispatch Centre answers 311 around the clock and can pass calls to the police, the ambulance service, the Barbados Defence Force, Barbados Light & Power, the Barbados Water Authority, and DEM.

Emergency and information numbers¶

Service	Number	Notes
Police	211	The Barbados Police Service. Call when someone's life or property is in danger.
Fire	311	Barbados Fire Service. The Dispatch Centre is staffed 24 hours a day.
Ambulance	511	Emergency Ambulance Service of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 24 hours a day, all year.
Police non-emergency	246-430-7100	For police matters that are not emergencies.
Department of Emergency Management (DEM)	246-438-7575	DEM's main line. Call to find your nearest shelter, to ask which shelters are open, or to reach your District Emergency Organisation.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital	246-436-6450	Main hospital line. For an ambulance, dial 511.
Veterinary Services Department	246-535-0221	DEM says to call for advice on livestock and larger animals in an emergency.

Official alerts and information¶

Barbados Emergency Warning System (DEM): DEM's official alerts. Subscribe by email on the site, or use the CAP.CAP app for Android or iPhone that the site links to. Website.
DEM hurricane and storm alerts explained: In DEM's words: a Bulletin is issued when a significant weather system is detected in the area. An Advisory is issued at regular intervals when a tropical storm or hurricane is first detected. A Watch means hurricane conditions are a real possibility within 48 hours. A Warning means hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Website.
Barbados Met Services WhatsApp channel: The official WhatsApp channel of the Barbados Meteorological Services, linked from barbadosweather.org. Website.

National resources¶

Department of Emergency Management (DEM): Current emergency alerts, hazard information, and shelter lists. Website.
StormReady Barbados (Government of Barbados): A household hurricane checklist you can tick off or save as a PDF, and key phone numbers for a storm. Website.
Hurricane Preparedness Checklist (DEM): DEM's printable checklist for getting ready for hurricane season. Website.
2026 Emergency Shelter Booklet (DEM): Every designated shelter by parish, shelter rules, what to pack, and what to do when a watch or warning is given. Website.

For state agencies across the country, see the official sources page.

Evacuation centers¶

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Emergency shelters open only when DEM announces them, so go to a shelter only after officials say shelters are open. When they open, the list is published in the local media and on the social media of DEM, the Ministry of Educational Transformation, and the Barbados Government Information Service, and you can also call DEM at 246-438-7575. Category 1 shelters may be used during a hurricane, and Category 2 shelters may be used afterward if they are still in reasonable condition. Pets are not allowed, food and bedding are not provided, and 14 shelters have a bathroom suitable for wheelchair users.

Official list of open evacuation centers

Radio, TV and weather¶

Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.

Official forecasts¶

Barbados Meteorological Services: Forecasts, radar, and tropical weather information for Barbados. Office line, also 246-535-0022. Phone: 246-535-0021. Website.
National Hurricane Center: US hurricane forecasts for storms near Barbados. The Barbados Meteorological Services links to it. Follow the Met Services and DEM for official alerts. Website.

Power, water and debris¶

Barbados Light & Power (BL&P): Emergencies line. Also call it to report trees with power lines running through them. Customer care: 246-626-4300. Never touch fallen or hanging wires. Phone: 246-626-9000. Website.
Barbados Water Authority (BWA): Also written 434-4BWA. Report outages and burst mains. Phones are answered every day from 8:30 a.m. to midnight, including weekends and bank holidays. Phone: 246-434-4292. Website.
Water outage notices by parish (Government of Barbados): Current BWA notices for your parish, with email alerts. Website.
Drainage Division (Ministry of Transport and Works): Report flooding in your community, blocked drains and watercourses, and stormwater wells that need cleaning or repair. Phone: 246-536-0059. Website.

After the storm: help for displaced residents¶

If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.

Relief organizations¶

Barbados Red Cross Society: Works with DEM to bring relief to the people most affected by a disaster. Office hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Phone: 246-417-2727. Website.

Sources¶

Checked on October 3, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.