Authors: Bamba; Delroy Daley, 4th semester student; with Hazarie Ramoutar, FCCA, MBA, Incident Commander; and Golden Jackson, PhD, Assistant Dean for Community Engagement.
Hey friends! It’s Bamba here! Do you know what season it is? Yes, it is still summer, but it is also hurricane season. You know…the time of the year when it rains more often than usual – and it rains A LOT! Sometimes, it is very dangerous, and we need to know what to do in case of an emergency! Let’s see what our friends at AUC say about staying prepared for hurricane season!
Did you know that hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends November 30?
In St. Maarten, the busiest time for hurricanes is between August and October.
What is a hurricane?
A hurricane is rain with wind speed that is at least 74 miles per hour (MPH) or 119 kilometres per hour (KPH). Wow! That is strong, considering that the average wind speed in St. Maarten is normally below 15 MPH or 24 KPH!
Here are some hurricane tips from the AUC School of Medicine to keep you safe.
What to do before the storm:
- Before the storm, stores may begin to close early so that they can prepare for the hurricane too. So, it is best to not wait until the last minute to collect your supplies.
- Buy groceries that include food (with some of your favourite snacks) and water that can last your family a week, because grocery stores can be closed for safety reasons and you need to have enough food to last.
- Assemble supplies: a first-aid kit to include medicine that you or a family member needs to take during the storm, flashlight and batteries, rain gear or large plastic bags, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, pet food and supplies. With that deadly coronavirus still around, remember to make sure you have hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, soap, and a supply of masks for each person in your family over age two.
- Put copies of important documents like your birth paper, passport, etc., in a sealed waterproof bag.
- Decide where you will shelter: At home, a room with no windows is best; or you can go to a community shelter – find the location and sheltering requirements of the nearest shelter.
- Know where to get emergency alerts by radio or internet. Have a list of emergency phone numbers to call in case of an emergency. For example, if someone gets hurt and needs an ambulance, the number to call is 912. Make sure to add these numbers to your phone in advance. Don’t forget to include phone numbers of your favourite aunties and uncles in case you get separated from your parents.
- Make sure all windows, shutters, and doors at home can be tightly closed. Clean drains and gutters of leaves or debris. Bring any loose items like furniture or toys inside the house.
- Remind Mommy and Daddy to fill the gas tank of your car. Add dollars to your phone and keep it fully charged. If you have spare battery chargers, make sure they are also charged.
What to do during the storm
- Take a count of all the people and pets that are with you to make sure the person in charge knows where everyone is. The person in charge is responsible for keeping you safe – this could be someone in your family if you are staying at home or a Shelter Manager if you are in a Shelter.
- Do not leave your house or community shelter unless told by the person in charge.
What to do after the storm:
- Take another count of all the people and pets to make sure everyone is accounted for.
- If you are in your home, check to see if there is any damage done inside and outside your house to make sure it is still safe to be in it or to go outside.
- Let your family and friends know that you are safe or need help after the storm. You can use a WhatsApp group, Facebook Check-In or some other way to let them know.
Wow, that was a lot of good info! So, you have some homework to do! Ask your parents if they have completed all the items in the “What to do before the storm” section. If they say yes, that is awesome. If not, I challenge you to help them get it done. You can do it! It will be your training in Disaster Medicine!
Until next time, friends – Stay safe and Bamba out!
