Sint Maarten – 2nd POST HURRICANE GONZALO ASSESSMENT & CLEAN-UP

On Tuesday afternoon the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) met to assess the situation in the country.  Additional information will be provided on Wednesday as the national cleanup efforts continue.

INTRODUCTION:

The Emergency services as well as technical crews from the utility companies continued to work throughout Tuesday and will do so during the evening hours as part of the national recovery effort. 

This is the second update with respect to reports coming in from assessment teams:

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE:

• The Department of Social Services will be open on Wednesday during office hours from 8.00am to 3.30pm to assist persons who will need assistance.  Persons will be assessed on their individual needs/circumstances.  Priority will be given to the most vulnerable (senior citizens, handicapped/disabled);

ELECTRICITY/WATER SUPPLY:

• GEBE has several teams working to restore electricity in parts of the following areas where there downed power lines: Dutch Quarter, Sucker Garden, The Keys, AT Illidge Road, St. Peters, Cole Bay, Point Blanche, Cape Bay.  This is related to low tension lines, which are down.  Due to the soaked ground it is difficult to plant new electricity poles; the damaged poles will be removed as well as any live cables;
• Less than 1 per cent of electricity consumers are without electricity;
• Water should be restored later tonight; not only consumers will receive water at the same time and water pressure may be low in some areas, but should stabilize on Wednesday;

SCHOOLS:

• There is no school on Wednesday, October 15; cleanup is required at certain schools; some schools were damaged and debris has to be removed; school management teams along with Ministry VROMI will continue to carry out an assessment on Wednesday and the public will be informed when schools will re-open;

BUSINESSES:

• Businesses can operate as normal once they assess their own individual circumstances and meet standard requirements according to their licences;
• Consumers should be cautious when patronizing businesses that do not have running water at this point in time.  Water is still being restored to consumers and businesses during the course of tonight.  This notice is in light of avoiding any public health issues.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES:

• Government offices will be open on Wednesday.

NATIONAL CLEAN:

• Landfill is open: persons taking debris to the landfill need to be patient and wait their turn to enter the area;
• Pond Water Level: one more meter left to reach the minimum water level;
• Link 1 Cay Hill Area: Remains closed until further notice as a precautionary measure due to rock falls;
• Cleaning of debris continues on the road leading to Dawn Beach and Westin Resort;
• Clean up continues under the Ministry VROMI and private contractors.  Clean up efforts will continue on Front Street, Back Street and the main roads.  Secondary roads will follow.
• Primary roads should be clear within another 24 hours; secondary roads, complete cleanup could take up to 14 days.
• Large Green Waste Bins: have been placed at various locations along the main roads to collect hurricane related debris; these will also be placed along secondary roads as well;
• Homeowners and businesses busy with cleanup, do not dump bush or tree trimmings or other garbage/debris on top of GEBE water meters or electrical meters; this is to prevent damage to the aforementioned and outage of service to consumers;
• Mudslides/Rock falls: residents in hilly areas should be mindful of the aforementioned;
• Retaining Walls: if a retaining wall has given away at your home, do not remove it at this point in time; let the ground dry out; removing it now would create further slippage of earth;