PHILIPSBURG(DCOMM):--- Preparations for Hurricane Exercise 2025 (HUREX 2025) are well underway for a full-scale live drill at the operational, tactical, and strategic level of the Disaster Management Organization and supporting partners.
The drill will take place along the Airport Road and Simpson Bay Lagoon area and will entail the temporary closure of the Princess Juliana International Airport on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
Certain roads in the vicinity of the airport will also be closed for vehicular traffic during the national HUREX 2025 training exercise. This information will be shared soon.
The preparedness of the country's Disaster Response system, as it is currently structured, will be tested and evaluated to develop further and improve the country’s Disaster Management Strategic Response.
Various emergency services and military vehicles, as well as personnel from various governmental and non-governmental entities, will be working together during the exercise. The public will notice a noticeable increase in emergency services activity on the road network; therefore, there is no need for alarm.
The HUREX exercise takes place regularly and includes the 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) from the country’s Disaster Management Organization, along with the Dutch military detachment based on the island, and additional partners.
The exercise enables all relevant government agencies, semi-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the military to familiarize themselves with operational protocols in the event of a disaster.
The exercise takes place under the banner of the Fire Department/Office of Disaster Management.
The Fire Department/Office of Disaster Management falls under the Ministry of General Affairs.
