ODM Urges St. Maarten Pet and Livestock Owners to Prepare for Hurricanes

Sint Maarten's Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is calling on households and farm animal owners to include their pets and livestock in hurricane preparedness plans as the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season enters its peak activity period. The reminder comes from the government's communications arm, DCOMM, and targets both domestic pet owners and those who keep farm animals. Authorities emphasize that animals are often overlooked in emergency planning, which can lead to dangerous outcomes for both the animals and their owners during a storm. The ODM is urging residents to make concrete arrangements in advance — such as identifying shelters that accept animals, stocking emergency supplies, and planning evacuation routes that accommodate livestock. The warning reflects broader preparedness messaging as the most active and statistically dangerous months of the hurricane season approach.