News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. Oct. 27, 2018: November 6, 2017 will mark two months since Hurricane Irma slammed into French Saint Martin and Dutch St. Maarten, wreaking havoc and decimating lives. Here are 10 things you need to know about the island of Saint-Martin to date:
1: Saint-Martin’s Grand Case International Airport is open and providing access to the rest of the Caribbean, the US and Europe with flights via Pointe-à-Pitre with Air Antilles Express and Air Caraibes.
2: Electricity has been restored in 88 percent of households across the island and a 100 percent could get power back by the end of the month.
3: Grocery stores and gas stations are provisioned.
4: Only two beaches have received local health agency clearance for swimming.
5: Many restaurants in the islands dining capital Grand Case won’t be open until 2018.
6: Hotels across the islands suffered severe damage and some are expecting a soft opening in April 2018 but all efforts are being put in place to have a normal 2018 – 2019 tourist season.
7: Water and telecommunications are back.
8: There is still a wait to get into banks across the island with some letting clients in one at a time.
9: Debris remains an issue across the island and is still to be cleared in areas which has made some areas a breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes.
10: The hospital has remained open all throughout this ordeal and the health department has reported zero outbreaks to date.
