On September 6, 2017, Irma ravaged Saint-Martin and the return to a normal life, in safety under a protective roof, is still far from being obvious for many families. Families who are worried about the possible passage of a cyclonic phenomenon in 2018, just like the 11 people living today in an area identified as submersible.
Some are fortunate to know that they will be able to stay with relatives in the event of a hurricane, but others will not have this possibility.
Well aware of this reality, the Collectivité has completely revised the organization of the shelters it opens to the public during cyclone alerts and has more than tripled their reception capacity, from 500 to 1 places, as announced by the President. Gibbs, in 700 shelters scattered throughout the territory. This mission was entrusted to Charlotte Terrac, in charge of the Collectivity of the management of major risks, including cyclones.
“At Irma's announcement, the BRGM (geological and mining research office) of Guadeloupe informed us of a risk of submersion and that is when we encouraged people living in a flood-prone area to take refuge with nearby or in a shelter and that we have opened the school complex to the public, ”she confides.
However, the shelters were not full, unlike what happened between Irma and José, where the shelters exceeded their capacity, obviously due to the destruction caused by Irma. The ideal solution would be to dedicate a large sports hall and equip it as well as possible to transform it into a huge safe shelter as soon as necessary, but we are now in an emergency and we had to work with existing means, in emphasizing, however, their security and reception conditions.
Priority to security, but also comfort
The list of shelters has been identified, studied, and 9 safe shelters have been selected. 8 are buildings belonging to the Collectivity, including 6 schools, the school complex and the former Concordia gendarmerie, at the crossroads of the rue de Hollande and the route de Concordia. This last shelter is being fitted out, for a capacity of 200 people. A diagnosis of these 8 shelters was carried out with the engineers and architects of a design office, and it was decided to strengthen security there in order to channel the fears of the refugees and that they be best protected and in better conditions of comfort. Thus, all these buildings have concrete frames and all the glass openings will be sealed. Also, these shelters have generators, which will allow them to be lit and the water from their cisterns to be pumped to the taps. Folding camp beds will be available for the most vulnerable people and the shelters will have water, subsistence food (cookies, bananas, etc.), a radio, torches and a first aid kit. The ninth shelter, dedicated to 200 inhabitants of Cul-de-Sac and Anse Marcel, belongs to ASMT, in Anse Marcel. However, while waiting for this possible cyclonic phenomenon that apprehends the entire population of the island, let's prepare our homes and their surroundings now in order to minimize the consequences as much as possible. Good luck !
The shelters open their doors to the public when they go on RED alert
Even with better reception conditions in the shelters, it is certain that it is always more comfortable to be received with friends or family in the event of a cyclone alert. Also, the 1 places available this year would not be enough to accommodate all applicants. The advice: if you have to leave your home in the event of a hurricane warning, get in touch with people who could accommodate you today.
In the Savannah, the school complex will accommodate 340 people in the event of a cyclone alert
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