Last Tuesday was held the first public meeting of the procedure for the revision of the marine submersion / cyclonic hazard component of the natural risk prevention plan (PPRN).
Led by officers from the Department of the Environment (DEAL), it aimed to present the progress of the revision and the elements that served as a basis for it.
Following the readings of the heights of waters carried out after Irma, a 3D map was produced showing the impact of marine submersion on the whole of the French part. Some buildings have been reported there. According to the manager of the Deal's risk center in Saint-Martin, 11% of the territory was submerged by Irma. According to the data collected, at Orient Bay the sea went up to 350 meters inland. The place where the sea rose the highest is at Oyster Pond with a coastline at about 5 meters, 4,19 m were recorded in Quartier d'Orléans, 2,8 meters at Nettle Bay / Lowlands. It is not the height of the water in the houses but the height of the water above sea level. Waves between 6 and 8 meters have been recorded in the east of the island.
"Minimize the effects from a natural disaster »
The state services have repeated it several times: the ambition of the revision of the PPRN is to "reduce the vulnerability of the population" and "to improve resilience". That is to say, "minimize the effects of a natural disaster and rebound faster towards a state of equilibrium". DEAL has estimated that the territory will be completely rebuilt in September 2021. If we "build better in less vulnerable areas", the reconstruction of the territory will be faster in the future after a cyclone. This will "slow the economy less."
The goal today is to expose the population to the risks involved in living in high-risk areas. In short, to encourage her to move out on her own. And to insist on the risks of termination of insurance contracts by companies. Note that the amount of damage caused by marine submersion and compensated by insurance is not known.
"The Saint-Martinois likes to live by the sea but he does not have to be feet in the water", comments the DEAL which specifies that the regulations do not make a difference between a private home and a hotel. In other words, hotels should be further away from the coast to be better protected. The example was taken with the Club Orient which was completely destroyed or the ground floor of the Beach in Marigot. Ditto with the ecosite which is in a submersible zone, and whose reopening has been delayed.
Next public meeting on April 23…
The DEAL also wishes to draw the attention of the population to the consequences of urbanization on the beaches: buildings and riprap are factors that reduce the sandy cords. "If we build on the beaches, there will be no more beaches in Saint-Martin, but it is a tourist attraction," she says. According to studies, sediments cannot settle and reconstitute the beach, they are evacuated by the sea. On the other hand, riprap allows stabilization of the coastline. "They in no way protect against submersion," insists the manager of the risk center.
By seaside dwellings, the services mean all the houses within a limited perimeter, it is not only the first line of houses. For example in Grand Case, the first row of houses was very badly damaged but protected the others behind. If the first row is destroyed, the second row will be exposed to the shock of the waves, and so on. The problem must therefore be taken as a whole. While knowing that "we cannot let build a house because it protects the one behind". According to several studies, a minimum of 50 meters from the shore is required.
At this stage of the review, the state services assure that there will be no expropriation. "Our role is to inform and advise," says the prefect. Recommendations and new regulations for the next constructions will be defined and presented on May 10. Among these recommendations, the displacement of the living areas above the reference dimensions. In any case, the PPRN will not prescribe works or arrangements for protection against the cyclonic risk of marine submersion.
The next public meeting will take place on April 23; will be presented the different maps and zoning.
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