GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is advising the country’s economic mainstay, the tourism sector and business community, to review hurricane plans in preparation for the peak period of the 2017 hurricane season which runs from August 15 through October 15.
The tourism sector, business community and also residents are advised to pay keen attention to weather reports with special focus on the Eastern Atlantic Ocean where tropical weather systems that form off the African Coast (Cape Verde Islands) can become a serious threat to the Eastern Caribbean island chain.
At this stage of the hurricane season, tourism-oriented businesses including vacation rental management companies should have plans already in place. The prevention of the loss of life of our visitors and staff along with protecting property from damage is the responsibility of every business owner.
The engine of the economy is every single business operation on the island. Each one plays a very important role in the country’s tourism-oriented service economy.
As the Office of Disaster Management annual theme says, “It only takes one!” Now is the time for the business community in its entirety as well as residents to review what preparations are in place, and not when a storm is about to hit.
The hurricane season runs through November 30.
