The start of the peak period of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season is August 15 and runs until around October 15.
The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is appealing to residents not to let their guard down, preparedness pays off, do not be complacent and have all necessary preparations rapped up.
According to a recent release from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States Department of Commerce, the Atlantic hurricane season is still on track to an above-normal season with the possibility that it could be very active.
The season has already produced four named storms, with the peak of the season only now starting.
The NOAA says that conditions in place now are similar to those that have produced many active Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1995, and include above-average Atlantic sea surface temperatures and a stronger rainy season in West Africa, which produces wind patterns that help turn storm systems there into tropical storms and hurricanes.
The Eastern Caribbean island chain is expected to see an increase in the formation of tropical wave systems coming off the coast of Africa from now until mid-October, and these waves have the potential to develop into a tropical storm.
ODM is calling on the Sint Maarten community to including the tourism and business sector to be storm/hurricane ready.
Home owners and business operators must take the required actions to minimize the risk of injury and damage to property in case there is a hurricane strike, and the time to act is now if you haven’t already.
Being prepared is essential prior to a hurricane strike. Businesses and government must survive and recover from a disaster as quick as possible which would ensure that the economy can be up and running and our way of life returns to normal.
Remember, it only takes one to make this a bad hurricane season for the country.
The remaining storm names for the 2013 season are: Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.
The hurricane season runs through November 30.