Islands' News

Food wholesalers and warehouse depots requested to have plans in place to secure premises in event of a storm/hurricane threat GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Food wholesalers and warehouse depots are requested to have their facilities storm/hurricane ready by having a plan in place to prepare and secure their properties in the event of a storm/hurricane threat, the Office of Disaster Management said on Monday. Every effort must be made to be prepared to take timely action in clearing storage areas properties of loose pallets and other materials in the event of a weather related threat. The primary objective is the protection of the people first and foremost, property and surrounding residential areas. Materials such as plywood, shipping pallets, food pallets, pieces of metal used to secure pallet shipments, can easily become flying missiles capable of impaling brick walls or anything in its way. It is the responsibility of the business owner to have plans in place to remove any materials and/or have them properly secured on the property within a short period of time in the event of a storm/hurricane threat. When a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued 48-hours before a system is forecasted to hit the country, businesses should activate their business resilience hurricane preparedness plans which should also include the aforementioned.