A weather system east of the Eastern Caribbean developed into Tropical Depression 13 last night and should affect the local area by late Friday. Although early indications were that this system might pass to the north like Tropical Storm Josephine, it could not only come a lot closer but be stronger and/or bigger by then.
The preliminary forecast track looked a bit hopeful in the sense of direction, but unexpected shifts can always occur, as experience has taught, and make a major difference regarding impact. While not foreseen to become a hurricane, that could also change, so vigilance has been urged and several advisories were up.
Particularly under the circumstances at the height of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season it is good to know that four priority shelters should be completed at the end of the week (see related story). Whether this means they will also be ready to be used if required for the current threat was unclear, but there are possible alternatives such as the recently designated John Larmonie Center.
The shelters now being fixed and prepared will have properly housed generators with fuel tanks, aboveground water reservoirs and well-functioning air conditioning systems – no doubt important elements. Their windows, doors and shutters are also being repaired or renewed to make them wind- and rain-resistant.
However, it must again be pointed out that none of the four is in the general Cole Bay/Cay Bay/Simpson Bay region. That may certainly prove a shortcoming, especially because “the hill” in practice acts as a kind of barrier between the two sides of St. Maarten, a reality which authorities themselves applied to limit movement during the partial COVID-19 lockdown.
In any case, the sooner work can start on the other nine shelters the better. With roads often blocked during and following natural disasters, having an adequate spread of these over the various districts remains an obvious necessity.
