Government doing everything possible to prepare for Hurricane Maria, says May

Hurricane Maria approaches the Leeward Islands, as the hurricane intensified into a "potentially catastrophic" category five storm and continued on a collision course with British overseas territories already battered by Irma. Picture: NOAA/PA Wire

Hurricane Maria 'reintensifies' as it sweeps towards British Virgin Islands

Speaking during her visit to New York, the Prime Minister said that the UK was in a "strong position" to respond quickly when Hurricane Maria hits, as more than 1,300 British troops and Royal Navy assets are already in the region helping with the recovery from Hurricane Irma.

She promised the UK Government's "full support" to territories like the British Virgin Islands, where emergency steps are being taken to prepare for the arrival of Maria, less than a fortnight after the Caribbean island chain was devastated by Irma.

The latest hurricane was also threatening storm surges and torrential rain in another British overseas territory, Montserrat.

Mrs May said: "The UK Government is doing everything possible to get the right resources in place to support affected communities, many of which have already been devastated by Hurricane Irma.

"These are unprecedented events and the scale of the challenge posed by two category five hurricanes hitting the same region in close succession should not be underestimated.

"We had been tracking the path of Hurricane Maria and are in a strong position to respond and get support where and when we need it.

"We're working closely with the authorities in the territories and British support is on the ground already with over 1,300 military troops and Royal Navy assets in the region.

"At the same time we are continuing our work towards the long-term reconstruction of the islands hit by Hurricane Irma.

"These are challenging and traumatic days for everyone affected across our British Territories and they have the full support of this Government in getting through these difficult times."