St. Maarten Private Eye

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;

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 14, 2007/N142

Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority request mariners to monitor closely progress of Tropical Storm Dean

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) – Managing Director of the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation, Russell Voges advises all boat owners and captains to keep track of the weather bulletins and to make sure they take the necessary precautions to safeguard their boats, dinghies and properties should Tropical Storm Dean pose a threat to St. Maarten. The storm path can be followed on the website of the U.S. National Hurricane Center is .

Bridge will not open when windspeed exceeds 35 kmh or 19.7 mph:

Please be advised that the Simpson Bay bridge will stop operating when the ten minute average wind speed as measured by the Meteorological Service of the Netherlands Antilles exceeds 35 kmh or 19.7 mph and therefore will be closed for maritime traffic. The daily bridge openings are 09:30; 11:30 and 17:30 hours. The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority advises all boaters very strongly and urgently to bring in their boats long before any storm is nearing the shores of St. Maarten so they can make use of the regular bridge openings and assure themselves of anchoring down their boats in a safe and secure manner.

Requirement for safe entry of barges:

Any barges brought in through the bridge channel should have a second tugboat tailing the barge to ensure that the barge will not be hitting the bridge structure from side to side. Especially barges should be brought in early when the winds are not high and the tides are not strong. The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority advises all companies once more that they will be held responsible and liable for all visible and all hidden damages incurred during passage and cautions them to take the utmost care. Barges that are not accompanied by a tailing tugboat will not be permitted to transit.

Anchored boats will be inspected:

The Simpson Bay Lagoon will be patrolled extra prior to the threat of a storm by the Coast Guard the Maritime Police and the Lagoon Authority and all anchored boats will be inspected to see if they are properly and safely anchored and do not form any hazard during the storm to any of the other boats anchored in the lagoon.

Seek refuge early before storm strikes:

All boaters in St. Maarten and in the surrounding islands of Anguilla and St. Barths are hereby explicitly warned that if they would like to seek refuge in the Simpson Bay Lagoon with their boats to weather out the storm should Tropical Storm Dean pose a threat to these islands, they should be constantly on the alert," Managing Director of the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation, Russell Voges told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Tuesday.

The expected wind speeds for Friday, August 18 will probably oblige the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority not to operate the bridge and therefore there will be no passage into the Lagoon. Do not hesitate! Make up your mind now! Make use of the regular bridge openings during Wednesday and Thursday to bring in your boat. Only if the measured wind speeds allow such, the bridge will be operated on Friday. If the increase in flow of maritime traffic seeking refuge requires such, the Lagoon Authority will consider special openings.

For more information the Lagoon Authority can be reached on tel: 545 3183 and the bridge attendants can be reached on VHF channel 12.

Roddy Heyliger

St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)

News Release

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;

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 15, 2007/N144

Tropical Storm Dean shifts more Southerly, but residents urged to continue to monitor the storms progress

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) – The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported on Tuesday that Tropical Storm (TS) Dean continues to strengthen and that the residents of the Eastern Caribbean islands should continue to monitor the system as the storm moves towards the Eastern Caribbean island chain.

TS Dean based on Tuesday weather advisories has taken a more Southerly tracking which would keep it further away from St. Maarten as it makes its way through the Caribbean island chain some time on Friday or Saturday.

The Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness (ODMP) encourages residents to continue to monitor the progress of the tropical storm system which has been intensifying.

TS Dean will be closely monitored by the ODMP and if required, advisories will be issued in a timely manner to the media regarding what measures should be taken if the system was to change course and possibly pose a threat to the island of St. Maarten.

TS Erin has also formed making it the fifth named storm for the season and is located in the Gulf of Mexico off Texas.

As we approach the busy part of the hurricane season which runs from August 15 to October 15, residents are advised to make sure that they have already taken certain steps to protect life and property.

On Thursday evening August 16, a Government Information Service (GIS) Hurricane Special will be aired at 6.00pm on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 15 entitled, “What You Need to Know.”

The first step of storm/hurricane preparedness is ensuring that you are adequately informed. For new residents, start by learning about storms/hurricanes, and how they can affect the island and how to prepare.

Learn the location of public shelters. Determine how safe is your area and inquire about flooding of low lying areas. Devise a hurricane preparedness plan. Decide from the onset where you will go if your house isn’t safe. Make sure the house you choose to shelter in is well constructed.

Persons living in dwellings, whose structure may not be of the quality of the house constructed out of concrete, should make alternative arrangements in the event of a hurricane threat.

If you own a boat, decide where to store it in the event of an emergency. Most importantly, ensure that your home and property insurance are up to date.

Trim deadwood from trees and cut back overhanging branches. Check and repair loose gutters around the roof and downspouts. Check and repair loose or damaged roofing; install hurricane roof straps if you do not already have them installed.

Check your hurricane shutters or plywood covers and the tools you need to install them. Practice installing them. Stock up on plywood if necessary. Get it measured, cut and labeled for each opening if you do not have shutters.

Stock up on hurricane supplies. Begin collecting enough non-perishable food, water, first aid, and other survival supplies to last each person for the first three days after the passing of a hurricane and up to a week. To diffuse cost, the items can be purchased a little at a time by picking up some extras with each trip to the supermarket.

Do not forget to stock up on any prescription medication your family may need, especially items for the young and elderly. During the hurricane season keep your vehicle’s gas tank more than half full at all times.

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Roddy Heyliger

St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)