Better Signals, Stronger Services: Building Resilience Ahead of the Next Storm

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• 17.6 kilometers of electricity cables moved underground to prevent service disruption in extreme weather.
• First national Cell Broadcast System set up to send mobile emergency alerts in affected areas, with a public island-wide test planned this year.
• 512 homes, 11 emergency shelters, 3 first responder buildings, and 19 schools repaired to more resilient standards.

As winds howled through Sint Maarten, Leroy’s phone stayed silent. Power lines fell, and warnings never came. In the dark, his family waited without knowing whether to stay, leave, or wait. In neighborhoods across the island, many others were also left guessing, cut off from information as much as from electricity and water.

Hurricane Irma was a reminder of the fragility of essential public services in extreme weather, as well as the danger posed by unreliable early warning signals. With support from the Emergency Recovery Project I, three interconnected initiatives—moving critical infrastructure underground, building a national alert system, and improving the reliability of weather data with real-time monitoring—are strengthening service continuity and decision-making as part of a coordinated disaster preparedness and response system.

Going Underground, Going Mobile

When the hurricane struck, fierce winds and flying debris damaged above-ground power lines, disrupting service to thousands of households and businesses. To prevent this from happening again, about 17.6 kilometers of electricity cables have been moved underground in partnership with the NV GEBE utility company by year-end 2025, benefiting approximately 1,400 households. The remainder of underground utilities are on track for completion in 2026, building resilience for families and neighborhoods across South Reward, Cole Bay, Point Blanche, and Dutch Quarter.

Progress has also been made on a new national cell broadcast system that allows authorities to send emergency alerts directly to every mobile phone in affected areas, with no app or internet connection required. A complete system linking the Public Warning Portal, Cell Broadcast Center, and mobile network operators is now in place, hardware and software installation is complete, and 25 government and telecom staff are trained to operate it.

A live test on TelEm’s 3G network confirmed the cell broadcast system’s end-to-end messaging works in real-world conditions. A public island-wide test is planned in 2026; full operations are expected before hurricane season.

More Accurate Weather Forecasts

Complementing reliable power and mobile phone alerts, a network of five Automated Weather Station sites, two additional rain gauge sites, and one sea-level monitoring site will be installed to assist Sint Maarten’s Meteorological Department in monitoring extreme weather-related impacts. Observations will be sent through the World Meteorological Organization Information Systems to improve forecast accuracy for Sint Maarten and the wider region.

“Once operational, the delivery of high-quality data in real time will be critical,” says Paul A. Kucera, Meteorological Instrumentation Expert and World Bank consultant. “This will mean emergency managers can better anticipate the impacts of weather-related hazards and act faster, while informing the planning and safety decisions of families, communities, and businesses.”

Resilience for the Long Term

The project has also strengthened emergency response capacity through repairs to the radiosonde building, two police stations, and 11 emergency shelters, and the provision of critical equipment and vehicles to the fire and ambulance departments. For families, 512 homes have been repaired. For students and communities, 19 schools have been restored, and repairs to 7 school gyms and 5 community sports facilities are now underway following the signing of the first of four contracts in April 2026. The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) is working with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport to advance this component.

Together, these investments signal a long-term commitment to safeguarding Sint Maarten’s communities, ensuring that when the next storm approaches, both authorities and residents are equipped with the tools, data, and confidence needed to respond effectively together. The groundwork has been laid; in 2026, these systems will be put to the test, so Sint Maarteners like Leroy and his family will no longer wait in the dark guessing about their services and safety when severe weather strikes—they will know.