GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – National Disaster Coordinator/Fire Chief Clive Richardson says storm and hurricane activity has increased with Hurricane Florence in the Atlantic Ocean and Tropical Storm Gordon in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The month of September is known for being an active month for storm and hurricane activity. Therefore, I am appealing to all residents to be prepared to take action in the event the country is treated by a storm/hurricane,” Richardson said on Tuesday.
Richardson reiterates the message from the St. Maarten Meteorological Department (MDS), that Hurricane Florence which was located on Tuesday afternoon more than 1300 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, does not currently pose a threat to Sint Maarten and MDS will continue to closely monitor the progress of this system.
The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is calling on contractors and builders to make sure they have plans in place to secure building sites around the country. ODM has observed various building sites where there are a lot of materials laying around and this could form a danger to life and property in the event of storm/hurricane threat to the country.
The Region is in the peak period of hurricane activity which runs from August 15 to October 15.
The ODM is urging residents to check hurricane shutters and the roof of their home or business and to make sure windows and shutters close securely.
Persons living along coastal areas as well as those in flood-prone areas should start looking at what measures they would take in the event of a hurricane which could cause flood challenges.
Mariners who are seeking shelter in the Simpson Bay Lagoon or Oyster Pond should also make plans to stay with friends or at a hotel once they have secured their vessel in a timely manner rather than staying onboard the vessel to ride out the passing of a storm.
The remaining storm names for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season by the World Meteorological Organization are: Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar,
Patty, Rafael, Sara, Tony, Valerie, and William.
The 2018 season so far has seen seven named storms develop to date. An average Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1-November 30, produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
