St. Martin/St. Barth: Islands on maximum alert for Hurricane Irma Sept. 6 /update 1

Event

The islands of St. Martin and St. Barthélemy have been placed under violet alert (the maximum level) - imposing a total confinement of the population - in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Irma as of Wednesday, September 6. Hurricane Irma strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Tuesday, September 5, north of the Lesser Antilles. Irma became the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin (outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico) on record as of Tuesday morning, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Irma is currently over the Caribbean and made landfall in Barbuda, an island of 1600 residents, between 01:00 and 02:00 (local time) on Wednesday, September 6.

Irma is expected to pass near the islands of St. Martin and St. Barthélemy on early Wednesday morning, September 6, between 06:00 and 12:00 (local time), bringing violent winds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph), storm surges, two months' worth of rain in 24 hours, and waves of up to 12 meters (39 feet). Significant flooding is expected in coastal areas. Reinforcements were sent to both St. Martin and St. Barthélemy including 60 firefighters from mainland France, 20 firefighters from Guadeloupe, and 200 police officers. The start of school was delayed on the two islands, and hospitals have been alerted to have three days' worth of medicine, food, and water on hand with medical staff prepared to intervene.

Context

Hurricane Irma is expected to hit numerous islands in the Caribbean as it continues its path from the Antilles up to the United States. Hurricane warnings are currently in place for the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St. Martin, St. Barthélemy, Guadeloupe, Vieques, and Culebra. There is also a tropical storm warning in effect for Dominica and the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, and a hurricane watch in effect for the northern coast of Haiti, Turks and Caicos, the southeastern Bahamas, and Cuba (from Matanzas Province to Guantanamo Province).

Advice

Individuals present in the Caribbean are advised to keep abreast of weather alerts, confirm travel reservations, avoid coastal and mountainous areas (risk of flooding and landslides), and adhere to all advice issued by the local authorities.

Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult. Finally, because floodwater may also contain wastewater or chemical products, wear boots and try to avoid any contact with the water. All items having come into contact with the water should be washed and disinfected. Dispose of any food that may have come into contact with floodwater.