ODM: Calls on Residents and Businesses to Closely Monitor Tropical Storm Sam. Recheck your Disaster Supply Kit
The 18th -named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season Tropical Storm (TS) Sam, is expected to become the seventh hurricane of the season on Friday.
TS Sam is expected to become a major hurricane over the weekend. On Thursday according to the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS), TS Sam was located over 1600 miles from the island.
The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is calling on residents and the business community to closely monitor weather reports from MDS and other Government related
mediums with respect to the progress of TS Sam, and to continue to remain vigilant and prepared.
For official weather-related information, check out the website of MDS: www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/
ODM calls on residents to review the content of their Disaster Supply Kit to make sure it is stocked with the essentials that are necessary to ride out the hurricane season.
Every household?s Disaster Supply Kit should be able to support members of the household for a minimum of seven days after the hurricane has passed.
The Disaster Supply Kit should contain non-perishable food, water and medicine (fill prescriptions before the storm); non-electric can opener; first-aid kit; extra cash (ATM machines and credit cards won?t work if there is no electricity); a battery powered radio and flashlights as well as extra batteries; make sure cell phones are all charged prior to the arrival of the hurricane; fill up your car/truck with gas; check if your home and automobile insurance are up to date; put ID cards, passports and driver?s license, insurance papers in a waterproof bag along with other important documents.
If you are a parent with an infant or young child (ren), you also need to have essential items as part of your disaster supply kit: baby formula; diapers; bottles; powdered milk; medications; moist towels; and diaper rash ointment.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of Government mandated public health and safety measures are in place. The aforementioned must also be taken into consideration for hurricane season preparations.
Your Disaster Kit must also include hand sanitizer, a soap bar or liquid soap; two cloth face coverings for each person; disinfecting wipes, or general household cleaning supplies to disinfect surfaces.
Continue to ensure that tree branches around your home are trimmed; cut all dead or weak branches on any trees on your property; clean-up your yard and put away items that could blow away during the passing of a hurricane; re-check your roof and storm shutters to make sure they are secure, and the latter are working.
For those whose homes are not yet storm/hurricane ready, you should make alternative housing arrangements to stay at family or friends.
The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your ?Hurricane Season Readiness Guide? and ?Hurricane Tracking Chart.?
Listen to the Government Radio station ? 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane.
The remaining storm names for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season are: Teresa, Victor and Wanda.
