~ Three shelters open at 3:00pm ~
PHILIPSBURG–After an assessment of the Friday morning forecast on Hurricane Jerry from the United States (US) National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS), heavy rainfall is expected to start late Friday afternoon.
Hurricane Jerry is expected to pass 140 miles from the country at it closest.
In an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) meeting on Friday morning, the EOC, chaired by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin, has taken the following decisions as precautionary measures for public safety.
All schools, as well as afterschool community programmes, are to close by 2:00pm.
Businesses are to close by 2:00pm. However, supermarkets, restaurants and hardware stores can remain open until 4:00pm.
Additionally, exception is being made for the operations of the airport, harbour and hotels. However, the management of these establishments are requested to use discretion, considering the risks involved.
Government offices will close at 2.00pm. Only emergency services and other relevant departments related to these will remain open.
Three shelters will open at 3:00pm for those whose homes are not storm ready. These shelters are the St. Peters Community Center; the Christian Fellowship Church in Cole Bay; and the Dutch Quarter Community Center (Dacca Road/Zorg en Rust);
These measures are being taken to ensure that the public is safe with respect to the anticipated heavy rainfall associated with the passing of Hurricane Jerry, said EOC.
According to MDS, weather conditions are expected to deteriorate late Friday afternoon and into Friday night, with an improvement by midday Saturday.
Persons should remain indoors due to the risks associated with possible street flooding in low-lying areas, as well as possible rockfalls and landslides along hillside roads, said EOC.
Staying off the road network will also facilitate first-responders and the ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI to deal with any possible emergencies should the need arise.
St. Maarten remains under a Tropical Storm Watch.
According to MDS, the potential impact for St. Maarten is total rainfall accumulations of one to four inches. Most of the significant showers are expected by late Friday into Saturday.
Persons are urged to visit government’s website
www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where one can view the “Hurricane Readiness Guide” and download a “Hurricane Tracking Chart.”
EOC advises persons to listen to government radio station 107.9FM for official information and news before, during and after the storm.
For official weather-related updates, persons can visit MDS’ website at
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/91063-eoc-decides-to-close-schools-businesses-government-as-a-precautionary-measure
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