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 meagre resources we have, he explains.
In Jamaica, only 20% of homes are insured, while slightly more than half in Barbados have coverage. Observers point out that factors like earthquakes and volcanoes also create a perfectly hazardous environment for insuring properties.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October. For many Barbudans, this time of year brings trepidation and memories of past storms, compelling residents to remain vigilant and resilient as they prepare for potential natural disasters.
