Message from Crisis Manager Andre Bennett on the Start of the 2024 Hurricane Season
We are at the beginning of what forecasters predict will be a very busy hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there could be an 85 per cent chance of an above-normal season this year.
It predicts between 17 and 25 named storms, with winds of 39mph or higher. Of these, eight to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes, with winds of 74mph or higher, including four to seven major hurricanes of category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111mph or higher.
Storms of this magnitude can cause catastrophic damage to homes and infrastructure, and heavy rains can cause flooding to which we are vulnerable. Therefore, I implore you to be prepared and to take all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and well-being and to secure your home and property.
Please ensure that you have a hurricane plan in place, including emergency contact numbers, a supply of non-perishable food and water, and a first aid kit. Secure any loose objects around your homes and cut trees and branches that can fall during high winds. And listen to the radio and monitor the Statia Government Facebook page regularly for updates during the season.
Let’s not wait until a storm is approaching to begin stocking up on everything you might need. You don’t need to buy everything at once, but a little at a time helps.
Let us, as a community, support each other and prepare both individually and collectively for the hurricane season. Together, we can weather any storm.