GREAT BAY:---– The Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness (ODMP) would hereby like to inform the community that St. Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Watch according to the Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Weather Service, as Tropical Storm Ana makes its way towards the Eastern Caribbean island chain.
Tropical Storm Ana on Sunday at 8.00 am was located approximately 470 miles East-Southeast of the islands. Maximum wind speeds are near 40 miles per hour. Ana is rapidly moving Westward at 20 miles per hour.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that there is a possible threat of tropical storm conditions within the next 36 hours while a Tropical Storm Warning is an indication that storm conditions can be expected within 24 hours.
Residents should use Sunday to prepare for tropical storm conditions, which are expected early Monday when weather conditions are expected to deteriorate.
Additional information will be issued by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Sunday afternoon after an emergency meeting of key disaster management entities, which is scheduled at 1.00pm.
This information will entail the national state of preparedness of disaster management entities; whether schools will open for the first day of the 2009-2010 school years; and the status of business openings for Monday.
Tropical Storm Bill as of 5.00am this morning has strengthened a little and is located about 1640 miles East of the island chain and has maximum wind speeds of 45 miles per hour. This system does not form any threat to the island at this point in time. Bill is moving Westward at 13 miles per hour and is expected to make a gradual turn toward the West North West in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Residents are strongly advised to continue to monitor radio and TV reports throughout Sunday, as more advisories will be issued by the Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness with respect to the progress of Tropical Storm Ana and Tropical Storm Bill.
EOC meeting decides Schools Closed on Monday as precautionary measure; Tropical storm conditions anticipated from Tropical Storm Ana; St. Maarten remains under Tropical Storm Watch.
