St. Martin News Network

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season has already seen five storm systems form so far for the season.
With four months still to go, Disaster Coordinator/Fire Chief Winston Salomon of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) says residents should see an increase in the formation of tropical waves and tropical depression systems which can later develop into a tropical storm.
At the moment two tropical systems, namely, Tropical Storm Ernesto (in the Caribbean Sea) and Tropical Storm Florence (Eastern Atlantic Ocean) are churning in the aforementioned areas, and poses no threat to the country.
The U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted 15 named storms, of which four to eight could become hurricanes, and of that one to three could become major hurricanes of Category 3, 4 or 5.
Disaster Coordinator Salomon says this is one reason why the community should not become complacent as we move into the peak of the season.
The ODM is calling on the community to make sure everybody has everything in place and are storm ready.
Everybody must take the required actions to minimize the risk of injury and damage to property in case there is a hurricane strike, and the time to act is now if you haven't already.
Being prepared is essential prior to a hurricane strike. Businesses and government must survive and recover from a disaster as quick as possible which would ensure that the economy can be up and running and our way of life returns to a semblance of normality.
Residents, business owners and contractors have been already advised from the beginning of the season to draft plans that would protect their families, business operations and construction sites.
When a hurricane threatens our island, what is left for residents, businesses and contractors to do to prepare should be minimal. Remember, it only takes one.
The remaining names of potential storms for the 2012 season are: Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie and William.
The hurricane season runs through November 30.