POND ISLAND--It only takes one hurricane to disrupt our lives and our economy, said Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin in her address to the country ahead of the start of the annual six-month hurricane season today, Saturday.
“We cannot for a split second become complacent in our preparations for hurricane season, as Hurricane Irma taught us on September 6, 2017. For many the memories are still vivid and the experiences are still tough to cope with,” said Romeo-Marlin.
“I urge you not to wait until a hurricane is knocking at our door. Do not wait for the last moment to run to the store to buy batteries, canned goods, diapers, essential toiletries etc. Do so well before the peak of the hurricane season, because it is beneficial to you and your family that you prepare early!
“Together, as a united country, we must do all that we can to be fully prepared for any disaster.
“At the beginning of every season, every household and business needs to prepare for the hurricane season. This is an individual and collective responsibility,” Romeo-Marlin said.
Government, through the efforts of the Emergency Support Function (ESF) Groups and stakeholders that form the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), has prepared for any possible storm threat or strike to the country.
“We may never be 100 per cent fully ready to face a major hurricane such as Irma, but I wish to reassure the people of St. Maarten that the civil servants and public employees that make up the ESF groups are committed to doing all that is possible with the resources available to face any calamity that may come our way,” Romeo-Marlin said.
Regarding housing preparations specific to projects financed via the Recovery Trust Fund, Romeo-Marlin said the roof repair programme had been launched recently by the National Recovery Programme. Social screening of 135 houses has been completed and technical assessments of repairs are to start soon and are to be followed by construction.
St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) is close to completing repairs to 109 homes, while 160 units that have been repaired already are being reviewed to assess eligibility for retroactive financing.
Government has a number of activities and initiatives related to hurricane preparedness undertaken by the EOC. Each ESF group in the EOC is amending its disaster plans to reflect best practices from the trainings and lessons learnt from the experiences of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
For the second year, the Dutch-financed, World Bank-administered Recovery Trust Fund has financed St. Maarten’s insurance premium against tropical cyclones, earthquakes, and excess rainfall under the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF).
Discussions are ongoing with Aruba and Curaçao to determine the processes to ensure the delivery of support – military, governmental, medical or civilian – in the event of an emergency.
The second Hurricane Expo is set for June 22. This year, the plans include a series of information sessions that will target the communities to give persons the opportunity to pose questions to ESF groups, NGOs and key stakeholders on information provided during the session.
The annual hurricane exercise drill HUREX will be held at the month’s end. Following HUREX, the EOC will again meet on July 5 in an internal setting as previously done at the Disaster Preparedness Conference. This year’s theme is “Communication is Critical” with the emphasis on internal and external communication.
A Disaster Emergency App will be launched at the Disaster Preparedness Conference.
The annual hurricane clean-up by the Ministry of Environment and Infrastructure VROMI within the neighbourhoods starts at month’s end or early July.
Romeo-Marlin called on key community stakeholders such as non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and community councils to have their plans ready to be implemented should a storm threaten the country.
“It is your responsibility to connect with community leaders in your neighbourhoods to be informed of plans that may affect you during an emergency,” she said.
Romeo-Marlin urges residents to review and restock their disaster supply kits with food, medications, drinking water, an emergency cash fund and other essentials, to secure and safeguard homes and places of business; to trim overhanging trees near buildings; check leaking roofs; install storm shutters; review the roof structure and strengthen it; and repair windows and doors if necessary.
Residents are also reminded to take into account the wellbeing of children and pets; to check household emergency supplies and all insurance; to safeguard important travel and identification documents; and to access official communication sources.
Coastal residents or those in flood-prone areas are advised to make plans to move before any storm hits to stay with family, friends or make alternative housing arrangements.
“Make plans for elderly family members who live alone as well as those family members who are physically challenged. Please do not forget your pets. Remember, preparing early is the key,” said Romeo-Marlin.
The hurricane shelter list will be published soon.
