GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – With the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season now in its active peak period, the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is reminding households and livestock owners to ensure that pets and farm animals are included in their hurricane preparedness plans.
The most active period of the Atlantic Hurricane Season traditionally runs from mid-August through mid-October, when conditions across the Atlantic Basin are generally most favorable for tropical storm and hurricane development.
ODM reminds the community that regardless of the overall seasonal forecast, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season for Sint Maarten. Residents should therefore use this time to review and complete their preparations before a weather system threatens the country.
As part of its ongoing hurricane season public awareness campaign, ODM is encouraging pet and livestock owners to have a dedicated pet and livestock hurricane plan in place.
Pets are important members of many households and should not be overlooked when developing family emergency plans. Leaving animals without adequate preparation during a hurricane could result in them becoming injured, lost, or exposed to dangerous weather conditions.
ODM reminds residents that pets should never be left chained or tied outdoors during the passage of a tropical storm or hurricane. Owners should identify beforehand where their pets will remain during severe weather and make the necessary arrangements well in advance.
Residents should also take into consideration that hurricane shelters may not be equipped to accommodate household pets. Pet owners who may have to evacuate their homes should therefore make alternative arrangements ahead of time with family members, friends, veterinarians, animal care facilities, or other appropriate locations where their pets can be safely accommodated.
If circumstances require a pet to remain at home, it should be placed in the safest possible area of the residence, away from windows and other potential hazards, with sufficient food and clean drinking water available.
A hurricane preparedness kit for pets should include at minimum: A supply of pet food and drinking water for at least seven days; Required medications and copies of medical records; Vaccination and registration documentation; A collar or harness with identification information and a leash; A secure crate or pet carrier for transportation or evacuation.
Pet owners should also consider keeping a recent photograph of their animal with their important documents. This could assist with identification should a pet become separated from its owner during or after an emergency.
ODM is also urging owners of cattle, goats, chickens, and other livestock to review how their animals will be protected before, during, and after a hurricane.
Animal holding areas, fencing, chicken coops, water systems, storage areas, and other agricultural infrastructure should be inspected and reinforced where necessary. Loose materials and equipment around farms and animal holding areas should be removed or securely fastened, as these can become dangerous projectiles during hurricane-force winds.
Livestock owners should identify in advance the safest location to relocate their animals. Where appropriate, animals should have access to secure areas with adequate space, clean drinking water, feed, and higher ground away from locations susceptible to flooding.
Owners should carefully assess whether barns or other structures can safely withstand hurricane conditions. Animals should not be confined in structures that could collapse during high winds and leave them unable to escape.
Chicken cages and coops should be inspected and reinforced before a storm threatens. Feed, medicines, veterinary supplies, and first-aid materials should also be stored in a safe and dry location.
Livestock owners should maintain adequate supplies of animal feed and drinking water to sustain their animals for several days following a hurricane, particularly since access to feed stores, water supplies, electricity, and transportation could be disrupted after a major weather event.
Where possible, livestock owners should also maintain identification and ownership records for their animals and keep important veterinary and agricultural contact information readily available.
ODM emphasizes that animal preparedness should form part of the household’s and livestock owner’s overall hurricane plan and should not be left until a storm is approaching.
Prepare early. Protect your family. Protect your animals.
The Office of Disaster Management will continue its public awareness campaign throughout the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season and encourages the community to remain vigilant, monitor official weather information, and keep hurricane preparedness plans up to date.
