2018 hurricane season: 9 shelters, secure and more comfortable

The reception capacity of cyclone shelters increases from 500 to 1,700 people this year, with optimized safety and comfort conditions.

On September 6, 2017, Irma ravaged Saint-Martin and the return to a normal life, safe 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 11,000 people living today in an area identified as submersible. Some are lucky 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 Community has completely revised the organization of the shelters that it opens to the public during cyclone alerts and has more than tripled their reception capacity, going from 500 to 1,700 places, as announced by President Gibbs, in 9 shelters scattered across the territory. This mission was entrusted to Charlotte Terrac, in charge of the Community's management of major risks, including cyclones.

"When Irma was announced, the BRGM ( geological and mining research office) of Guadeloupe informed us of a risk of submersion and it was then that we encouraged people living in a flood zone to take refuge with relatives or in a shelter and that we we opened the school campus to the public," she tells us.

The shelters were not full, however, unlike what happened between Irma and José, where the shelters exceeded their reception capacities , obviously due to the destruction caused by Irma. The ideal solution would be to dedicate a large sports hall and equip it as best as possible to transform it into a huge safe shelter as soon as necessary, but today we are in an emergency and we had to work with existing means, with emphasis however on their security and reception conditions.

Priority to security, but also to comfort

The list of shelters was identified, studied, and 9 safe shelters were selected. 8 are buildings belonging to the Community, including 6 schools, the school campus and the former Concordia gendarmerie, at the crossroads of rue de Hollande and route de Concordia. This last shelter is currently being fitted out, for a capacity of 200 people. A diagnosis of these 8 shelters was carried out with engineers and architects from a design office, and it was decided to strengthen security there in order to channel the fears of the refugees and that 39;they are protected as best as possible and in better conditions of comfort. Thus, all these buildings have concrete frames and all glass openings will be closed. Also, these shelters have generators, which will allow them to be lit and the water from their cisterns can be pumped to the taps. Folding camp beds will be available for the most vulnerable people and the shelters will have water, subsistence foodstuffs (biscuits, bananas, etc.), a radio, flashlights and ;a first aid kit. The ninth shelter, dedicated to 200 residents of Cul-de-Sac and Anse Marcel, belongs to ASMT, in Anse Marcel. However, while waiting for this possible cyclonic phenomenon which the entire population of the island fears, let us prepare our homes and their surroundings now in order to minimize the consequences as best as possible. Good luck!

The shelters open their doors to the public at the time of the RED alert

Even with better reception conditions in the shelters, it is certain that it is always more comfortable to be hosted by friends or family in the event of a cyclone alert. Also, the 1,700 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 cyclone alert, contact people today who could possibly accommodate you.

In La Savane, the school complex will be able to accommodate 340 people in the event of a cyclone alert