CAY HILL--Food wholesalers and warehouse depots are urged by the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) to have their facilities storm/hurricane ready for the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season and to be ready to secure their properties in the event of a storm/hurricane threat.
National Disaster Coordinator and Fire Chief Clive Richardson issued an appeal to the business community on Thursday to use this time to prepare or review current pre-storm/hurricane plans and contingency plans.
When a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued, businesses should activate their hurricane preparedness plans. A tropical storm or hurricane watch means that storm conditions are possible within the specified area. A tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds in an area.
“Every effort must be made to be prepared to take timely action in clearing the surroundings of storage areas of loose pallets and other materials in the event of a weather-related threat,” Richardson said. It is the responsibility of the business owner to have plans in place to remove any materials and/or have them properly secured on the property where their business is located within a short period of time in the event of a storm/hurricane threat to the country.
Richardson’s call comes four weeks ahead of the peak of the season and follows the formation of Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico, the second named storm of the 2019 season. Tropical Storm Barry is no threat to St. Maarten.
For information about preparing for a weather event, persons are asked to visit
sintmaartengov.org/hurricane for a downloadable “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide” and “Hurricane Tracking Chart.”
St. Maarten’s Government Radio station – 107.9FM – will have official information and news before, during and after a hurricane.
For official weather-related information, visit the Meteorological Department’s website
www.meteosxm.com
