CAY HILL--The country’s nine designated hurricane shelters will not all be opened at once should a tropical storm or hurricane threaten the country.
Shelters will be opened to the public based on the “expected severity” of the impending storm, and its “expected impact” on the country, St. Maarten Disaster Manager Paul Martens told The Daily Herald on Wednesday.
Martens explained that disaster management officials would ascertain the anticipated number of shelters needed to cater to residents.
It has been seen in the past that not all shelters needed to be opened. If there is severe storm surge and residents in certain areas are asked to evacuate, shelters will be opened to house and protect them, he said.
The Police Force has expressed a desire to use some shelters as police substations in the time of a storm to provide streamlined service and public order.
The nine designated hurricane shelters are New Testament Baptist Church (A.C. Cannegieter Street, Philipsburg), Sister Marie-Laurence Primary School (Ellis Drive 1, Middle Region), St. Maarten Academy (Cupper Drive, Cul de Sac), Milton Peters College (L.B. Scott Road, South Reward), Rupert I. Maynard Youth Community Centre (St. Peters Road, St. Peters), Leonald Conner Primary School (Venus Drive, Cay Bay), Allan C. Halley Community Centre (Simpson Bay Road 27, Simpson Bay), Salvation Army Building (Union Road 59, Cole Bay) and Christian Fellowship Church (Welfare Road 95, Cole Bay).
