Storm Goretti clear-up operation

Friday 09 January 2026

As the clear-up operation continues in the wake of Storm Goretti, the Bailiwick's resilience and community spirit has once again shone through.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Policy & Resources Committee, has thanked the community for the support shown to public servants tasked with responding to the storm. Deputy de Sausmarez reflected that it takes a whole-community approach to successfully manage major incidents and this is something the islands do very well.

Deputy de Sausmarez said:

'While many of us were counting ourselves lucky this morning that we had escaped Storm Goretti relatively unscathed, others within our community were not so fortunate. For some, that's counting the cost of damage to property, but for those who have had to leave their homes, it's also the stress and uncertainty of that awful situation. I've seen the many heartening messages from islanders with generous offers of help, and I know various public services are supporting those affected, but my thoughts are very much with all those who have been badly affected by last night's storm.

'From a States perspective, I'm acutely aware of how much work went into the preparations and, once the storm hit, the people that braved the severe elements to help others and keep them safe. There has been a vast amount of work already to fully assess the impact, clear debris and repair damage to get the island back up and running again. I just want those involved to know that I and many others sincerely and wholeheartedly appreciate their dedication and effort: the public sector's response to this very testing situation, alongside the sterling work of others in the community, has done the island proud.'