THE HAGUE - In a recent statement, State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Zsolt Szabó confirmed that the Dutch Caribbean territories, including the special municipalities, are responsible for their own hurricane and tropical storm preparations. This reaffirmation of responsibility maintains a consistent approach with previous administrations, emphasizing the clear division of duties between The Hague and the islands.
According to Szabó, the Caribbean islands, comprising Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, are tasked with managing their own disaster preparedness and crisis response. The Netherlands will only deploy aid once these territories are directly affected by a hurricane or tropical storm.
Szabó acknowledged awareness of the recent report on "Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean" and affirmed that the expectation of an exceptionally active hurricane season, with up to twenty named storms and nine hurricanes, including four of severe categories, is based on research from the KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute).
The status of hurricane preparedness on the islands shows that both the autonomous countries and public entities are responsible for their own disaster management. The KNMI maintains close contact with the BES islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba) to provide up-to-date information and risk assessments. The CAS countries (Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten) operate their own meteorological services and exchange information as needed.
Despite the KNMI's forecast of an intense hurricane season, the Secretary of Justice and Security, responsible for disaster management in Caribbean Netherlands, reiterated that the islands are aware of the forecast and are handling their own preparations. Coordination efforts include the annual Crisis Management Week and the Tropical Cyclone Briefing, organized to ensure timely updates on dangerous weather conditions.
Research supports the view that climate change, including rising sea temperatures, contributes to the increasing intensity and frequency of hurricanes in the Caribbean. In response, the islands are developing climate plans for 2024 to address extreme weather events, with support from the Dutch government. These plans will include strategies for managing hurricane risks, recovery efforts, and the islands' interdependence in terms of medical care, food, and fuel.
The Dutch government is committed to supporting the islands in completing these climate plans promptly, acknowledging the capacity issues faced by the public entities. Updates on progress will be provided in the fall, ensuring that all necessary measures and funding are in place before the 2025 hurricane season begins.
This clarification underscores the self-reliance of the Caribbean islands in disaster preparedness while highlighting the Dutch government's supportive role in enhancing response and adaptation strategies.