GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) – Disaster Management Coordinator/Fire Commander Winston Salomon, would like to remind residents that there is still seven weeks to go before the end of the 2005 hurricane season.

Salomon is urging residents to continue to monitor weather reports and to maintain a state of readiness to take action should this be warranted due to a hurricane threat.

Renowned hurricane forecaster William Gray and his team at the Colorado State University in their most recent seasonal update says that the October month will continue the trend of above average hurricane activity that we have witnessed in the preceding four months of the hurricane season.

The 2005 season has already been one of the most active and is already the most destructive season on record.  Gray is forecasting three named storms of which two will become hurricanes and one will become a major hurricane with wind speeds of over 111 miles per hour.

“Two named storms, Stan and Tammy have already formed for the month of October, however mother nature does not work with a schedule, and therefore residents are advised to continue to maintain a state of preparedness until the end of the hurricane season which is November 30,” Disaster Coordinator Winston Salomon told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Friday.

There are two storm names left on the list namely, Vince and Wilma.  Should the number of named storms surpass the list; the Greek alphabet will be used.  The first two names will be Alpha and Beta.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Roddy Heyliger
Communications Consultant
Government Information Service (GIS)
Interim Dept. Head Marsha Beauperthuy
Ennia Bldg.
Longwall Rd.
Philipsburg
St. Maarten D.W.I.
Tel: 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119
Fax: 543-1169
Email: gis@sintmaarten.net