60 Years Since Hurricane Inez Struck the Caribbean

On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma made a direct hit on Sint Maarten as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded. The storm carried sustained winds exceeding 296 km/h (185 mph), causing devastating destruction across the island. Irma's impact was catastrophic, affecting both the Dutch and French sides of the island. The storm left widespread structural damage, displacing thousands of residents and crippling the island's infrastructure. Sint Maarten, heavily dependent on tourism, faced a long and difficult road to recovery in the months and years that followed. The hurricane stands as one of the most significant natural disasters in the island's history and a defining moment for the broader Caribbean region.

September 5 marks 31 years since Hurricane Luis, one of the most destructive storms in recent Caribbean history, struck Sint Maarten and surrounding islands in 1995. The storm made its impact as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing catastrophic wind and water damage to the region. Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, St. Barthélemy, and Anguilla were among the hardest-hit islands across the Lesser Antilles. Luis is remembered as a defining moment in the modern history of these islands, reshaping communities and infrastructure for years afterward. The anniversary serves as a reminder of the region's ongoing vulnerability to major Atlantic hurricanes during peak storm season.

St. Maarten's Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is urging households to review and restock their hurricane emergency supply kits ahead of the active storm season. The agency's guidance focuses on ensuring residents have adequate supplies of non-perishable food, clean drinking water, and properly stored medications. The ODM's advisory comes as part of routine hurricane preparedness efforts centered in Great Bay, Sint Maarten. Officials are emphasizing food safety practices and proper medication storage as critical components of any emergency kit. The reminder underscores the island's ongoing vulnerability to hurricane impacts and the importance of individual household preparedness. Residents are encouraged to take proactive steps now rather than waiting until a storm threatens the island.