Maho/Airport:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams and Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto welcomed the NOAA crew that arrived on St. Maarten on Thursday with the US Air Force Hurricane Hunter. A brief welcome ceremony was held at the Royal Islander Club Friday morning where St. Maarten's Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams expressed her gratitude to the NOAA crew for adding St. Maarten to their itinerary for the NOAA hurricane awareness campaign in the Caribbean region. NOAA began their hurricane awareness campaign on March 12, 2012 and it is scheduled to end on March 17th. The team comprising of members of the 53rd weather reconnaissance squadron is creating awareness in at least six regions of the Caribbean and Mexico for them to be prepared for the 2012 Hurricane Season. The team comprises of NOAA Director Bill Read, Gladys Rubio (Meteorologist), and Lixion Avilla (a senior hurricane specialist).
Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto told the small gathering that St. Maarten has been through its fair share of hurricanes not forgetting the infamous Luis that hit St. Maarten in 1995. He said since then the island has several mediums in place to prepare its residents when a hurricane is approaching the island.
Director of NOAA Bill Read presented the Prime Minister with a token while Jon Talbot made a slide show presentation on the activities of the hurricane hunter, he also presented the Prime Minister with a poster.
Representing St. Maarten were the head of Disaster Management Fire Chief Winston Solomon and representatives of St. Maarten Metrological Center.
Shortly after the press conference, the Prime Minister of St. Maarten and other dignitaries were given a tour of the hurricane hunter which was in close proximity of the St. Maarten Meteorological Center. Students of the various schools on St. Maarten were also given a tour of the aircraft while the crew members took the time to provide information to its guests on how they gather data for the National Hurricane Center.
Pilot Shane Delvin told St. Maarten's dignitaries that flying through well developed hurricanes is not at all dangerous but the cost of such missions costs the US Government about $5,000 per hour with a total of about $60,000 per mission. Students attending the various secondary schools preparing for their end of year examinations took the opportunity to gather information from the crew on how exactly they gather information through a storm. Many students were excited to get the opportunity to enter the aircraft which is fully equipped with modern day technology.
Click here to view more photos of the Hurricane Hunter tour given to dignitaries and students.
