MARIGOT–The much-anticipated new map of the flood risk zones in St. Martin drawn up by experts from the French State showing the risk assessments from the previous Plan de Prevention des Risques (PPR), compared to the reality of what occurred during Hurricane Irma was presented to the press on Wednesday afternoon in Hotel de la Collectivité.
The result is confirmation that Hurricane Irma was a storm like no other, the map proving that the previous PPR is woefully inadequate as depicted by zones marked in violet while the areas marked in blue showed how much water from storm surge came inland.
It was no surprise that a considerable amount of blue was found in coastal areas of Sandy Ground, Baie Nettle, Orient Bay and French Quarter. The onus is now on the Collectivité to do a complete revision of its building codes and building permit applications, while a new PPR is prepared.
The map was presented by Assistant Director of the Department of Environment in Guadeloupe Nicolas Rougier and the Inter-Ministerial Préfet for reconstruction in St. Martin, Philippe Gustin.
Rougier disclosed 96 flood measurements were taken directly after the hurricane which formed the basis of the new map which was then compared to the previous PPR map of 2011.
“We now know, thanks to Irma, that zones we thought were safe before according to the last PPR, are not safe anymore,” he said. “A new PPR has to be prepared and that can be a long process. But the map is useful for the Collectivité to know where to build and where not to build. It has the right to deny or grant a building permit based on the risk.”
Sabrina Placidoux, Controller of applications from the Collectivité’s Department of Sustainability, Management of the Territory and Urbanism, explained persons applying to build private dwellings or apartments, or reconstruct from scratch in risk zones will be informed there is a delay of two years before they can receive an answer.
“This is because we don’t know what the Préfecture will add to the new PPR which is supposed to come out in 2020,” she stated. “We want the population to be secure. If the President [Gibbs – Ed.] authorises a building permit in a risk zone and then something bad happens, the Collectivité could be sued.”
For houses that are located out of risk zones and only need repairs, no authorisation from the Service Urbanisme is needed, even if changing from galvanized zinc to concrete roof, she added. And houses that are in a risk zone that only need to be repaired and not reconstructed, that can be done by filling a “Declaration Prealable Irma,” a simplified procedure that asks for photo of the house, copy of owner ID, and explanation of work to be done.
For restaurants in high risk zones, regardless of whether they had a building permit before, they must apply for a new permit and show what measures they are taking to protect the building, the land, and the customers in the event of another major hurricane.
“A building permit is not guaranteed. They have to be abiding by the rules of Plan Occupation de Sols, so it depends,” she added. “There has been a lot of building going on that didn’t respect the rules and regulations. Restaurants we know are very important to the economy so adequate protection and safety has to be weighed against the need to ensure we have a tourism product.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/72843-hurricane-irma-far-exceeded-previous-flood-risk-levels-a-new-map-reveals
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