GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator Clive Richardson, is calling on the Sint Maarten community to use the time now to review their personal and family disaster supply emergency kit to make sure everything they would need in the event of a hurricane strike is in place.
We are in the peak of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season and every household and business should be prepared and ready and continue to be vigilant.
The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) says one of the first things that you need is a Disaster Supply Kit (DSK). A DSK would contain necessary supplies to take care of a person or family for up to five-seven days after a hurricane has passed the island.
A devastating hurricane could leave the country without water and electricity for several days if not longer, and therefore it is very important to have a minimum of one week of supplies for each person in the household.
The DSK should contain non-perishable food, water and medicine (fill prescriptions before the storm); non-electric can opener; first-aid kit; extra cash (ATM machines and credit cards won’t work if there is no electricity); battery powered radio and flashlights as well as extra batteries; make sure cell phones are all charged prior to the arrival of the hurricane; fill up your car/truck with gas; check if your home and automobile insurance are up to date; put ID cards, passports and driver’s license in a waterproof bag along with other important documents.
If you are a parent with an infant or young child (ren), you also need to have essential items as part of your disaster supply kit: baby formula; diapers; bottles; powdered milk; medications; moist towels; and diaper rash ointment.
The community and new residents are 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 – 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
