PHILIPSBURG —The Department of Communication (DCOMM) has enhanced the Hurricane Readiness Guide on the Government’s website. The Hurricane Readiness Guide tab can be found at www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane it has information that the community can make use of when preparing for the hurricane season, and critical information during and after a storm.
Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin said, “The Hurricane Readiness Guide tab is a great communication resource that will assist persons in the community in becoming aware of the importance of hurricane preparedness and also being more involved and conscious of a hurricane and its possible effects. I commend DCOMM for putting together this special website page with multiple tabs of relevant information on hurricane preparedness as part of its larger communication campaign for Hurricane Season 2019.”
The Department of Communication (DCOMM) is also providing information via its multimedia channels, via the government website, the daily newspaper, the Disaster Prep app, the distribution of a hurricane tracking chart and the SXMGOV Radio 107.9 FM. Keeping our community properly informed is the main objective of these actions.
The Hurricane Readiness Guide has eight (8) tabs with relevant information; Be Prepared, a List of Shelters for 2019, Storm Preparations, Staying Safe, Post Storm Safety, a Checklist, the Hurricane Items Maximum Price list of goods, and a list of Emergency numbers.
The public is urged to go to the website at www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane and explore its contents fully. It is important to be proactive in knowing what one has to do before and after a disaster strikes.
The public can also download the Disaster Prep Sint Maarten App on the same Hurricane Readiness Guide page on the government website. The newly launched App is currently only for Android users. It has information on Disaster and Risk management, Emergency numbers, ESF groups and regular updates. Whether it is a hurricane or a fire, this app, for residents and guests of Sint Maarten, contains information about how to prepare and what to do during a disaster.
Persons can also download a Hurricane Charting Map that can be used to track the route of a hurricane; it also has information about the Government’s Disaster Management Organizational Structure. The Hurricane Tracking Chart will be free of charge and will be available in the Government Administration Building at the Reception Desk, the Labor Affairs Service Desk, and the Public Service Center Information Desk.
DCOMM is also working on Public Service Announcements on several Hurricane Preparedness Tips in three different languages: English, Spanish, and French. The Hurricane Preparedness Tips are about: being prepared before a storm or hurricane, staying safe at various stages as a Hurricane approaches, specific advice about what to do to stay safe, being aware of the threats, and outlining the items of a Hurricane Supply Kit, and other safety tips.
While some English PSAs have been playing since June, others will begin shortly in the next 1-2 weeks.
In addition to the PSAs, DCOMM has also completed a new Hurricane Special that will be posted on their Facebook/sxmgov, Youtube/sxmgov and website www.sintmaartengov.org on this Wednesday, July 24 at 12 noon.
This special will also be broadcasted this Friday, July 26, on Cable TV Channel 115 at 7:00pm.
For official Government’s information, the public is urged to stay informed by tuning into SXMGOV radio 107.9 FM and/or by logging on to the official social media sites before and after a hurricane.
