Office Disaster Management (ODM) urges St Maarten to stay prepared
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Office Disaster Management (ODM) urges the community to stay prepared, as November remains part of the hurricane season.
Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator Clive Richardson emphasizes the importance of remaining vigilant as the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season nears its close.
Historically, November has seen significant hurricane activity. Meteorologists report that in the past 25 years, 17 named storms, including six major hurricanes, formed during November.
Sint Maarten residents remember Hurricane Lenny in 1999, and other November hurricanes include
Michelle (2001), Paloma (2008), Otto (2016), Eta (2020), and Iota (2020).
So far, the 2024 season has produced 15 named storms, with 10 developing into hurricanes, four of which reached major hurricane strength.
The ODM calls on residents and businesses to monitor local weather updates from the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten
(MDS) at www.meteosxm.com or Facebook.com/sxmweather/.
ODM reminds the community to check their disaster supply kits, which should include at least seven days of food and water.
For those who have not yet prepared, the time to act is now—don’t wait until a storm is imminent.
The remaining storm names for the season are Patty, Rafael, Sara, Tony, Valerie, and William.
ODM advises everyone to learn about hurricane hazards and preparedness resources by visiting the Government website at www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane.
Here, residents can download the “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide” and the “Hurricane Tracking Chart”—resources valuable for long-time and new residents alike.
For official updates, tune in to SXMGOV 107.9FM for information before, during, and after a hurricane.
Additionally, follow the government’s Facebook page @SXMGOV for updates,
including addresses by the Prime Minister and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) chair.
Stay prepared, remain vigilant, and remember that it only takes one hurricane to make a season impactful.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season continues through November 30.