GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) - Governor Franklyn Richards, Chairman of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), is calling on the St. Maarten nation to prepare for an active 2005 Hurricane Season which officially starts June 01 and runs until November 30.

Left to right: Interim Head of GIS Marsha Beauperthuy, Governor Franklyn Richards, SHHC Managing Director Mark Mingo, Sector Director of Management Support Services Randolf Duggins, and Disaster Coordinator/Fire Commander Winston Salomon. GIS Photo

"History teaches us that a lack of awareness and preparation are common issues among major hurricane disasters.  By knowing your vulnerabilities and what actions we should take, we can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster on our self, family and our community.

"The Office of Disaster Management in conjunction with the Government Information Service (GIS) as is customary will execute a hurricane awareness campaign for this season.  I am calling on residents and persons who recently have made St. Maarten their home to take stock and prepare now," Governor Richards said on Tuesday afternoon.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mid-May issued its 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook which calls for another above normal season.  The NOAA called for 12-15 named tropical storms, with seven to nine becoming hurricanes, of which three to five could become major hurricanes with winds of more than 111 miles per hour.

Professor William Gray's latest revised forecast as of May 31 is in line with what the NOAA is forecasting, 15 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness Coordinator and Fire Commander Winston Salomon, says we are ready with respect to the Island's Disaster Management System preparedness level should a hurricane strike.

"Are you ready? This is the theme of the Office of Disaster Management for the 2005 Hurricane Season.  Residents should review their home protection and disaster plans to make sure that everything is in place."

The public is strongly advised to begin implementing their own hurricane protection plans by making sure their disaster hurricane kits are fully stocked; hurricane shutters are in good working order; and yards are cleaned of any possible flying debris," Commander Salomon told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Tuesday.

"As a community, we should ask ourselves the question, are we ready?  Do we have all the necessary preparations in place before the height of the hurricane season in August?  If not, let us start making preparations from now!  Don't wait for the last minute to start preparing.  On June 1, the opening of the hurricane season, ask yourself if you're ready?" EOC Chairman Governor Richards said on Tuesday.

Fourteen buildings throughout the island have been designated as Hurricane Shelters.  These are, John Larmonie Center - Philipsburg; Senior Citizens' Recreational Centre - Hope Estate; New Testament Baptist Church - Philipsburg;  Dutch Quarter Community Centre - Dutch Quarter; Christian Fellowship Church - Wellfare Road - Cole Bay; Raoul Illidge Sports Complex - Cay Hill; Salvation Army Building - Union Road - Cole Bay; Allan Halley Community Centre - Simpson Bay; Leonard Connor School - Windsor - Cay Bay; Leopold Bell School - Union Road - Cole Bay; Genevieve de Weever School - Hope Estate; Sr. Marie Laurence School - Middle Region; Milton Peters College - South Reward; Hillside Christian School - St. Peters.

The names to be given to tropical storms this year are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma.

On Tuesday afternoon in the office of Governor Richards, a joint project of the Office of Disaster Management, the GIS and St. Maarten Harbour Holding Company (SHHC) entailing a hurricane tracking chart with pertinent information, was presented to the Governor by Disaster Coordinator/Fire Commander Winston Salomon.  Also present were GIS Interim Department Head Marsha Beauperthuy and SHHC Managing Director Mark Mingo.

Comments made during the presentation on Tuesday afternoon are as follows:

Winston Salomon: "This is the first time that the Office of Disaster Management in a joint effort with the GIS and SHHC has developed a Hurricane Tracking Chart for the St. Maarten community.  The objective is to bring about awareness within the community.  Not everyone has a computer, and this tracking chart will be an invaluable tool for the season.  Shortly we will announce where it will be available.  We also intend to have it distributed via the schools as well," Salomon stated.

Governor Richards: "It's a good idea and a good tool to make us aware.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank our corporate sponsor SHHC Managing Director Mark Mingo for a playing a role in this project," Governor Richards said.

SHHC Mingo: "Last year we also published a hurricane tracking chart, but this time we decided to work together with the Office of Disaster Management and the GIS on this project.  This demonstrates how the corporate community can work together with government departments on different types of projects entailing creating awareness within out community," Mingo stated.

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Written by Roddy Heyliger, Communications Consultant for the Government Information Service (GIS), Dept. Head Erno Labega, Ennia Bldg., Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, St. Maarten D.W.I. Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis@sintmaarten.net; Website: www.sintmaarten.net/gis