Island prepared for
Tropical Storm Chris
Cargo vessels detoured
POINTE BLANCHE--The Public Works Department maintenance staff was busy from early Tuesday morning clearing trenches and lowering the water level in Great Salt Pond and Fresh Pond in preparation for heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Chris that was scheduled to pass north of the island early today, Wednesday.
Chris was forecast by the Meteorological Service of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba to pass 25 miles north of St. Maarten around 2:00am and the department’s efforts were intended to heighten St. Maarten’s level of preparedness as it braced itself for up to six inches of rain.
The floodgates linking the two ponds were opened in anticipation of an increased water level. As an early precaution to further lower the water level, heavy equipment was on standby to open the channel next to Great Bay Resort that connects Fresh Pond to the ocean, Head of Maintenance Claudius Buncamper told The Daily Herald.
For faster water runoff in low-lying areas, trenches were widened a bit and some mangrove plants were removed from Fresh Pond, as the plants slow down water flow.
“The idea is to get the water moving off the roads and land, into the pond, as quickly as possible,” Buncamper said. “We are prepared for at least six inches of rain, so our major battle will be with the runoff water. There is no way to stop flooding completely, but we can minimise it by keeping the trenches and waterways as clear as possible.”
The Public Works crew took a break from their day-long tasks around 4:00pm and headed back on the job for an all-night vigil around 7:00pm. Most of the maintenance crew was stationed at the pump house on Sucker Garden Road.
The crew is available for road clean-up this morning. For emergency works, contact Buncamper at 520-1188.
Similar preparation was made yesterday to secure Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities. Containers stacked high in the cargo section were repositioned at lower levels in preparation for the passing of the tropical storm, St. Maarten Ports Authority (SMPA) Managing Director Keith Franca told The Daily Herald.
The Gottwald crane was also secured at the cargo facility to avoid any damage because of heavy winds, as were other loose items such as garbage bins. Items on the cruise pier were also protected after cruise ship Explorer of the Seas left port.
No cargo ships were accepted at Captain David Quay as of 11:00am Tuesday, Franca said. Vessels were detoured to other ports and will be allowed to dock once the weather has cleared up. Three cruise ships also cancelled their calls for today and tomorrow. (See related story)
Store owners in Harbour Pointe Village and at Captain Hodge Wharf were also very cooperative with the tropical storm preparations, Franca said.
The playground at the wharf was secured to prevent parts flying away and causing damage to surrounding buildings.
At Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) no significant measures were taken concerning the weather. PJIA director Eugene Holiday said the forecast had been that the storm would pass near St. Maarten around 2:00am Wednesday, so it would not affect the operation of the airport. PJIA closes down every evening. Depending on developments in the weather today, measures possibly will be taken.
Reports reaching The Daily Herald indicate that several airlines, LIAT and Take Air among them, cancelled some of their flights yesterday because of the weather conditions.
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