Start of Hurricane Season

I realize that we are living in the hurricane zone and that every year the threat and arrival of tropical storms and hurricanes is a major concern. As you know, I have not been in this area during hurricane season. I do, however know that being prepared is the most important part of getting through any storm.

It is not without a reason that you mark, with respect and prayer, the arrival of the hurricane season. From the stories I have heard the immensity and scope of these hurricanes can be truly awesome. Larger than a single country at times with the majestic power of a force greater than anything we can fathom. You know this. You have all witnessed this power. The unbelievable shaking and deafening sound of the storm as it rattles buildings, lifts up containers and uproots trees like toys. The unrelenting rain which pounds upon the island and creates rock and mud slides, flings roofs off as easily as one would open up a can of sardines.

During 2017, when Maria and Irma hit, the islands were tested to their core. Many buildings, on surrounding islands, were toppled or succumbed to the profound pressure which blew out walls and tore roofs off. Luckily on Statia there were only 15 roofs which blew off. But, as there were other homes which were not very stable, the foundation ‘Wederopbouw’ restored over 140 roofs and assisted 40 home-owners in strengthening their homes. A further 100 plus homes were painted. My deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis was very active in rebuilding Statia as you know.

When I came to Statia in December 2019, for the first time, a woman told my wife and I about how she experienced Hurricane Irma while living on St. Maarten. She was an island lady herself, born and bred on Statia, and ‘used’ to hurricanes. Irma was different she said. She had prepared like you should. She had bought extra drinking water, she had canned food and longer lasting perishables in a cooler. She had her portable grill ready. She had a special plastic watertight box filled with her personal papers and her portable phone charger.  Not to forget, lots of clean clothes, bedding, garbage bags, heavy gloves, duct tape, scissors, an all-weather radio, extra batteries of different sizes, first aid kit and insect repellant. She had prepared for her animals too by making sure they had enough food and water for 2 weeks. The woman had a medical condition and told us that she always made sure she had at least 2 weeks of medicine in reserve during the storm season. This time she had stored 1 month of medication and it was very lucky that she had done this. She had extra gasoline in jerry cans ready to fill up her generator and use it outside, if that was necessary. Her brother had made sure all of her windows and doors were protected with wooden shutters or plywood. She was as ready as she could be. All she could do was wait for the storm to arrive.

Like all of you I think, she was listening to the radio, following weather apps, watching the weather channel and talking to friends and family members to follow the progression of this monster storm. I remember her telling us that it was so incredible when the storm finally shifted to come over our islands. The eye of the storm passed directly over St. Maarten where she was. It was only a miracle which kept the eye from falling straight on Statia.

 I will never forget the way she explained the path of the storm through her home. She said she heard a noise like a freight train in her home. She was in the basement, as that was her hurricane-safe zone. Suddenly her ears popped, and she could tell the hurricane had reached maximum pressure. At that moment, she heard a window shatter and could almost follow the gushing wind cascading down the hall of her upstairs floor. She felt the jolt as the wind blasted her bedroom door open and surged through her master bedroom stripping her bed bare of sheets. The whole process lasted less that 3 seconds. “It happens so fast,” she said, “But the memory of it stays with you a lifetime.”

This woman only had minimal damage compared to many of her friends and family. She said when she finally ventured outside with her husband the next day, she could hardly recognize her surroundings. Some ancient kennip trees had been uprooted, cars were moved a block away, birds were not chirping, and everything was covered with leaves, dirt, water and debris of all kinds.

My wife and I listened to her story with care and caution. We were so grateful she had told us what it is really like. We were in St. Eustatius in order to see if we would like to commit to being here for a longer period. This was an eye opener and reality check for sure.

But you know what, she told us the truth about her experience. She told us what the event had been like for her. Upon discussing the reality of living in a hurricane zone with other people on St. Eustatius later that week, my wife and I knew that we would be happy to move here.

The stories which convinced us of this were stories from Statians. They were stories about how the entire community banded together and helped one another. How people who had lost everything incredibly found the strength to help those who still had something worth saving. People who had miraculously sustained little damage were not resented by those who had lost so much. We are all one seems to have been the prevailing attitude here on Statia.

And then the real work began. Rebuilding Statia started. A herculean task. A task which was hampered by so many things. No flights coming in, no supplies available for a while, limited access to help and provisions from outside the island. But you all managed. You banded together and helped one another. As another person told me, “In the aftermath of a natural disaster, all resentment and animosity disappears. You are all equals and want the same thing. To rebuild, be safe and get back to normal life as soon as possible.”

This brings to mind the famous Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto.” This is an unwritten rule which Statians appear to abide by. For some reason, perhaps a reason our religious leaders may be able to explain, the ability to look past one’s own needs and desires and look at what is good for the whole seems to become more focused in times of danger and crisis. Perhaps it is because our senses are heightened, and our aim is concentrated on survival? I don’t know the answer myself, but your rich and varied experience of preparing for disasters and surviving them well is inspiring.

 I will heed your warnings and your wisdom this hurricane season. I have just spent 3 months at the helm during the Covid-19 crises. As you know, Alida Francis and I have been moved and fortified by your patience and your willingness to adapt to the new normal during the Covid-19 crisis. As you can imagine we are now also working diligently on eventualities which take into account the possibility of the pandemic and a destructive hurricane coinciding. How to gather people in shelters while respecting social distancing. What to do in case a hurricane hits when there is an outbreak of Covid-19 on the island. These are not pleasant possibilities to look at but must be prepared for. We have our Island Support Team which meets regularly to be sure we know what to do if various ‘worst case’ scenarios develop. 

Fellow Statians, I have seen how well you deal with the threat of disaster during this pandemic. Let us move into this new hurricane season with the same calm and vigilance while being sure we are prepared. Even if this turns out to be a very active season, as some have predicted, let us enjoy each day and enjoy our beautiful island and each other. And let us remember that on Statia: WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER!

I remain your faithful Government Commissioner,

Marnix van Rij

Please go to the Government website and Government Facebook page for a checklist of what you should prepare in advance in order to avoid being caught off guard if, God forbid, a hurricane should hit the island.