PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator Clive Richardson is calling on the population to closely monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Karen, the eleventh storm of the Atlantic hurricane season that formed in the Southern Caribbean over the weekend.
The Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS) said in a Special Weather Bulletin on Sunday afternoon that Tropical Storm Karen was more than 300 miles South of the country and forecast to pass approximately 175 miles West-Southwest of St. Maarten on Tuesday afternoon.
The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is prepared and stands ready to convene should Tropical Storm Karen pose a direct threat to the country, according to a press release.
The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) urges the community and new residents to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting government website
www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where one can download a “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide” and “Hurricane Tracking Chart.”
ODM also advises persons to listen to government radio station 107.9FM for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane.
For official weather-related information, persons can visit MDS’ website at
www.meteosxm.com.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on November 30.
