TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Hurricane WARNING for St. Martin/St. Maarten

Your so right... the weather channel just shows where the storm is. but no talk of the leeward Islands...Just worried about the U.S. This is so sad. as far as any type of recovery? No electic, no water, can do nothing for a long time... My husband will of cource want to see the damage of our home, but realizes its a total waste to go on Island until things are up and running... We went through luis, and it took almost 2 weeks before we could fly in. Very hard to be so far away, but probably worse for those that reside there... May be too late for prayers...

If it hasn't been mentioned, you can follow or view a general search for Irma on Twitter and this provides a lot of up to date information and visuals.
https://twitter.com/search?q=hurricane%20irma&src=typd

Thoughts and prayers to all beings and creatures on the island, nearby islands, anywhere in the path of this storm, and to all who love the island and watch closely from afar as the storm develops.

Edited to add - since it is Twitter, you will see some silliness, but the informative outweighs the nonsense and the NASA graphics are especially something to see.

Yes, the animals and helpless creatures as well. The butterfly farm...some of those species rely on the special items they are fed, and will not live once released.
The Parotteville birds. Though I had asked them, and they had plans to move them to a safer location.
Horses.
The Zoo.

Since 7:16am the storm eye, by my unofficial plots/estimates, has made a bit of a right turn of about 5 to 7 degrees to the north. Wish I could master the picture posting ability to show what I'm doing.

Again, listen to the experts. Not me.

How does what you're seeing on your model compare to http://stormcarib.com/closest.cgi ?
Thanks

Sending our prayers to the people of SXM and all those in Irma's path.

Godspeed to all those on the islands. Stay safe, be strong and love one another.

Our prayers for everyone on St Maarten and all the surrounding islands. Please stay safe.

Cathy

Not a model, I'm plotting actuals and measuring distance. It has turned a further couple of degrees again more towards Sxm. Be nice if it did a 180.

I think all the modelers have a duty to be safer than sorry and they all seem to slant towards hitting land than open sea.......which is what you want to get people not to ignore. Storm Carib takes that likely plot and then measures distance.

I'm sure they are as good as anybody.

I will stop complaining about our 28 degree nights here in Michigan and my thoughts will be on the the folks at the Royal Palm. Carol It would be comforting to all if you could continue your updates as the storm progresses.. thanks so much

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone on these islands. We are all hoping for a miracle.

I'm listening to Island 92 on their Web site http://island92.com/ and they will be having minute by minute Hurricane coverage. I sure hope it's not real bad in SXM and that it changes direction before touching Florida where I live.

Of course prayers for our beloved sxm

Unless this thing turns, it will be horrific for the island we all love. As far as Florida, we're just starting to think about that also..

Our prayers for all on the island we so love. We were/are scheduled to be on this island on Sept 16th through 25th. This may turn into a humanitarian visit if we're able to even fly into SXM. Prayers for all.

After luis in 1995, it took about two weeks before we were able to see damage of our home there. they were just letting in med help and residents of Island... When we finally did get down and off the plane, we cried like babys to see what that hurricane did.. huge boats in the water overturned, houses without roofs, most business closed, and a much needed Island cleanup. If I recall, it took almost 3 years to get some sort of life back on the Island, I said some sort... this is so bad, there are no words for this..

Praying for our beautiful island friends and our beautiful island "home". My heart goes out to all.

Thanks for clarifying. Was hoping it would turn north and make a turn out to open waters.
We will continue praying for all.
Stay safe and hold those you love closely.

Man, hope and pray it is over quickly and is just a glancing blow. You don't have rivers and bayous like we do here in Houston. Best of luck to everyone and stay safe.
We have a saying down. When you see water on the road, turn around, don't drown

Just to say it - for the person posting over and over all the pessimistic comments- YOU ARE NOT HELPING! Hope for the BEST! Why all the negativity over and over and over. Maybe try saying your support is with those who live on the island. Geez.

Very helpful link to Island 92 thanks BobVTPilot - up to minute updates via your link.

I address this to no one in particular, but if the shoe fits.......

We all express our fears and concerns in different ways. It is also NOT helpful to make those who have 'been there done that' feel as though their concerns are unimportant or unappreciated, as they all add something to the discussion and the ultimate awareness of what this She-Devil Storm can create..

We all love the island and we all care about it's people. It might be more helpful if we just stick to posting our concerns and our prayers along with any information that might prove helpful to others reading here. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Back off, please. That person OWNS a house on the island!! They are freaking out. I would be freaking out too.

Amen to that Carol, freaking out here too!

You go Carol... Yes, I think anyone that has an invested interest on Island would freak out, but I will try and not vent anymore... I said try...

Play nice kids. I arrived home Sunday after two perfect weeks on the island I love. I remember Luis well. My heart is in my throat as we all wait anxiously for this to be over. The only thing of any importance is that all of our friends, family and pets are uninjured from this huge storm.

The current 11:00am advisory predicts the eye location in 24 hours at:

24H 06/1200Z 18.1N 63.0W 150 KT 175 MPH

Which is about 1 mile due east of Orient Beach.

https://www.windguru.cz/51227

This looks like a terrible morning coming.

Just upgraded to 185 mph. Does this thing ever stop increasing?

I experienced first-hand the worst recorded hurricane to ever hit NC (the only Cat 4) in 1954 - Hurricane Hazel. In 1996 I did my 50th birthday party on St. Barts, and my St. Jean beach was completely destroyed by Luis and never recovered from that hurricane.

I've seen tremendous beach damage in the Myrtle Beach area where we owned a condo.

They definitely can be a nightmare. I can only hope that SXM, SBH and other islands don't suffer "over-the-top", but suffer is definitely in the cards.

Latest from stormcarib.com web site:
"Just came up from Lay Bay, which is the rocky beach where Flamingo and La Vista resorts are located, and the breaking waves there are already huge by normal standards. And Irma is not even close to us yet. This beach is located on the middle of the south side of the island. Not sure how the north coast is faring at the moment. Winds here for most of the morning have been only a light to moderate breeze, with occasional periods of gusts estimated at 15-20kts, and which seem to be happening more frequently as the day progresses.

I also saw a lot of people putting final touches to preparations, boarding up, taking down signs and canvases, even strapping down the roofs of smaller huts and shops at the beach. It seems this time the majority of persons are taking the situation very seriously, as it should be, even the Caribbean die-hard optimists that usually go by "it will pass and nothing will happen" motto. Lets hope we will still have an island left by the end of this situation.

Alex at Pelican Key"

So right.... I have been going to st.M. since 1986. have many friends, property, and many fond memorys... Of cource first issue is safty, but judging anyone that has invested interest or life on Island is wrong... No one walks in anyones shoes... Vacation is one thing, owning and possible huge losses with destruction is another... period

She is turning more a bit putting Sxm straight ahead if she doesn't keep turning. Let's hope and pray she keeps wheeling around to the North.

Praying for minimal impact to All we know on the island.

Luis hit in 1995 and we built the house in 1990. We were so young and in Love, with each other and SXM. We had our honeymoon there in 1982. The villa was damaged and our own builder said how can we ever fix all this. My awesome husband smiled and said we will rebuild. It is just a structure that can be repaired once again. People and animals are much more important. God Bless St. Maarten/ St. Martin and all the other islands around her. W

All of us SXM fans here in Kansas City are watching closely

We own 2 condos on Beacon Hill and are off Island now in USA but I've been in touch with many people in SXM between yesterday and today and all are doing everything they can securing buildings and making sure all outdoor items are stored inside Condos etc. No one is relaxing on Island and the community spirit seems high but all are worried for their families and friends as well as pets. From what I have heard so far the North side of Island may take the hardest hit as well as the northeastern side. That doesn't mean that all areas won't escape severe damage . Lets pray the storm picks up speed; not wind speed, and passes quickly and curves to the North very soon.

First time as an owner of a condo watching a storm. While I have watched many storms, this is stressful. For me. It's just a thing. If lost it's lost. But for those living there, and talking via text, I can't comprehend what they are going through.

Yup. depending on your age. you can rebuild. this could be it for us. Too many years and too much rebuilding leads to enough is enough... Want my Island to go on and the people to go on... For now, its not about vacations its about the people that reside on Island, work on Island, and those that will get it back for you the vacationers... Its up too them period... They have to do the work... For now, we can only look on the inside. this is real for St.M.

Right On! At this point it is all about the folks who live there.

Sustained winds now at 185 mph with gusts to well over 200 mph.

Yikes! Those are pretty strong sustained winds, never mind the gusts. Hoping for the best for those on island, neighbouring islands and those in the path of Irma for the next few days.