No school today, USM
classes also cancelled
PHILIPSBURG--All schools in St. Maarten as well as University of St. Martin (USM) will be closed today, Wednesday as a “precautionary measure” due to the inclement weather conditions. Motorists are also being advised to exercise precaution on the roads.
Tropical Depression number 15 that formed on Monday is now Tropical Storm Omar. Omar is located more than 450 miles south west of St. Maarten.
Chairman of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Governor Franklyn Richards announced via the Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness (ODMP) on Tuesday afternoon that schools are to remain closed today, Wednesday.
“The measure being taken is of a precautionary nature, as Tropical Storm Omar is expected to pass through the islands of the North Eastern Caribbean in the coming days. Periods of heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected, however, additional information will be released,” it was stated in a release issued by Government Information Services (GIS).
ODMP is advising the public to closely monitor the progress of the system during the next 24-36 hours and be prepared to exercise a level of caution due to the possibility of localised flooding in low lying areas. Residents living in hill side areas should be vigilant for rock falls due to heavy rains.
GIS said additional advisories will be issued and the public is advised to monitor radio broadcasts.
In the meantime the university announced in a separate press release that classes scheduled for today have been cancelled due to the inclement weather. The university said that if the bad weather continued, another announcement would be made on Wednesday morning for classes in coming days.
