By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 30th September 2021) — National Disaster Coordinator at NEMA Abdias Samuel has indicated that had Hurricane Sam impacted the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis, such would have been challenging — particularly given the active COVID-19 transmission in the community and the complications that would create for the sheltering process. Speaking at the Prime Minister’s press conference on Tuesday 28th September, Samuel said: “Sam was a category four, and if that would have come into St. Kitts and Nevis, it would have been a challenging situation during this transmission that we are experiencing.”
The major hurricane was located approximately 200-plus miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and was expected by the local Met Office and CIMH to steer off and remain a ‘fish storm’ at sea. However, Samuel cautioned that two other systems were showing signs of development: one with a 70% chance of developing within 48 hours and another with an 80–90% chance of developing within five days. He said the national framework and subcommittees have been actively meeting and that NEMA has been in touch with regional and international partners including CDEMA and US SOUTHCOM. Samuel also reported that two field hospitals — being fabricated in the United States — had been delayed due to storm impacts and COVID challenges, with one now expected by September 30th and the other by October 8th. Residents were advised to continue hurricane preparedness measures, pay attention to their properties, and look out for vulnerable community members.