PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Clive Richardson, is calling on residents and the business community to remain vigilant and prepared as the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season heats up.
The Atlantic currently has major category four Hurricane Fiona, Tropical Storm Gaston (located near the Azores in the north Atlantic Ocean), and three other systems are currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center out of Miami, Florida.
None of the aforementioned systems pose a direct threat to Sint Maarten.
Fiona – which passed Sint Maarten last week as a Tropical Storm – is the season’s first major Category 4 hurricane which is forecasted to pass approximately 100 miles to the west of Bermuda early Friday morning.
In the meantime, the Cayman Islands are being warned of potential severe weather coming its way within the next five days. A strong tropical wave which entered the Caribbean Sea could develop into the next named storm.
The remaining names for the hurricane season are Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie, and Walter.
Residents and the business community are advised to continue to pay keen attention to weather reports in the coming weeks in order to be able to take the appropriate action when called upon to do so by the ODM/Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
National Disaster Coordinator Richardson would like to thank the general public for adhering to the rules, regulations, and advice from the authorities that were put in place during the passing of Tropical Storm Fiona to safeguard life and property, and looks forward to their continued cooperation in the future.
The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart.”
Listen to the Government Radio station – SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane.
For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/
Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season. Remain vigilant and prepared!
The hurricane season runs through November 30.
