MARIGOT: The day after its passage, this Saturday, September 17, 2022, little damage caused by tropical storm Fiona was noted on the territory of Saint-Martin. Back this weekend,it was placed in orange vigilance.
Particularly attentive to the evolution of tropical storm Fiona, which was categorized as a hurricane by Meteo France at the end of the weekend, Vincent Berton, Delegate Prefect of the Northern Islands, held three press briefings on Friday, September 16 at 10:30 am and 6 pm as well as on Saturday, September 17 at 9 am. During the latter, the Prefect said: “The night was rather quiet, few interventions by the firefighters and the police in St. Martin, as in St. Barts. Wind, a lot of wind, with peaks up to 120km/h, (…) little damage caused on the island and homes, except for example branches of trees on the road”.
Fortunately, there was no impact on the population of Saint Martin. Vincent Berton also thanked all citizens for their vigilance and discipline in the face of the approaching tropical storm Fiona, which was forecast to bring heavy rainfall with 50 to 80mm of cumulative rainfall, waves up to 4m high with a southeast swell, and sustained winds averaging 60 to 70km/h with gusts reaching 100 to 120km/h. During the night of Friday to Saturday, gusts of 66km/h were recorded in Marigot, 97km/h in Grand-Case, and 113km/h in Gustavia, Saint-Barthélemy. Having declared the orange vigilance early last Friday for heavy rains/storms, waves-submersion, and strong winds, Vincent Berton signed a prefectural order banning swimming, water sports, and maritime traffic until Sunday, September 18. The average waves reached up to 3.5 meters during the passage of the storm Fiona. Airports and schools were also closed on Friday.
With east winds that turned south, the east coast of the island was particularly exposed to the weather phenomenon. The services concerned were keeping a close watch on the districts of Cul-de-Sac, Quartier d’Orléans, and Baie Orientale. Not minimizing the potential danger of tropical storm Fiona, the first major storm since the beginning of the cyclone season 2022, all emergency services have strengthened their resources, police, firefighters, and hospital, so that everyone can react if necessary. During the night of Friday to Saturday, electrical problems occurred in the neighborhoods of Oyster Pond, Quartier d’Orléans, Sandy Ground, Baie Nettlé, and Grand-Case. The restoration was done by EDF on Saturday morning.
This Saturday, September 17, the day after the passage of the storm Fiona, Louis Mussington, president of the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, visited several neighborhoods to meet with residents, such as Sandy Ground, Grand-Case, Hameau du Pont in Marigot, Colombier or Agrément. These visits were welcomed by the population of Saint Martin.
Guadeloupe, however, was not spared. Basse-Terre was strongly impacted by the storm, and one death was reported.
The center of the storm Fiona was over Guadeloupe this Friday, September 16, 2022, at 6:00 pm causing considerable damage due to flooding and rising water levels that reached 1m50 in places.
The report is serious for some municipalities, roadcuts, landslides, significant material damage, devastating sections, and several dozen people to rehouse. The President of the Departmental Council of Guadeloupe, Guy Losbar, accompanied by departmental councilors, mayors, and authorities, was on the ground alongside the population this Saturday morning, declaring “this is undoubtedly a natural disaster that will require the implementation of a real reconstruction plan. The latter has already requested from the Government the recognition of the state of natural disaster, the establishment of the relief fund, and solid support from the authorities alongside local communities who are on the ground.
At 5:30 am this Saturday, the firefighters of Guadeloupe counted 130 interventions, including a majority on the south of Basse-Terre. “These are mainly people who feel threatened by the rising waters and need to be brought to safety,” said Colonel Frederic Lhomme, deputy departmental director of the Guadeloupe Fire Department, on Saturday. 23 people were rescued. “It is especially the area of Basse-Terre that is impacted, there are many streams, rivers and therefore problems of flooding,” said Guy Losbar the same day. The first death was that of a 54-year-old man. His house, located in a district of the town of Basse-Terre, was swept away by the flooding of the River des Pères caused by the storm. The lifeless body of its occupant was found. Guy Losbar has sent on his behalf and behalf of all the departmental elected officials his deepest condolences to the family of the victim. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, said on Sunday: “After the storm Fiona, my thoughts go to Guadeloupe, to our compatriot swept away and all the inhabitants affected. The state of natural disaster will be recognized and the relief fund for overseas will be mobilized. I have asked the Minister Delegate [in charge of Overseas Territories, Jean-François Carenco] to go to the site.”
Louis Mussington, president of the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, expressed his greatest support for Guadeloupe: “Our Guadeloupean friends have been greatly affected by storm Fiona. We show them all the solidarity of the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and its inhabitants. Our sincere condolences go to the relatives of the man who lost his life in Basse-Terre. We also have a moving thought for all the victims who will have to rebuild their lives. The territory of Saint-Martin was spared by Fiona but we know how difficult it is to overcome such an ordeal. In these circumstances, the people of St. Martin are at your side. Strength and courage to all Guadeloupeans.”
Fiona continued its devastating path by blowing winds up to 140km/h and dumping torrential rains on Puerto Rico on Sunday afternoon, depriving the American island of electricity in particular. The hurricane was heading towards the Dominican Republic on Monday.
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