1,200 Americans evacuated from St. Martin due to hurricane

1,200 Americans have been evacuated from the Caribbean island St. Martin but 5,000 still remain there, according to the U.S. State Department.

The State Department said on Saturday that it is ‘strongly advising’ United States citizens to go to shelter in place until Hurricane Jose passes. 

Flights out of the island were suspended on Saturday due to weather. 

1,200 Americans have been evacuated from the Caribbean island St. Martin but 5,000 still remain there, according to the U.S. State Department

The State Department said on Saturday that it is 'strongly advising' United States citizens to go to shelter in place until Hurricane Jose passes

The State Department said on Saturday that it is ‘strongly advising’ United States citizens to go to shelter in place until Hurricane Jose passes

There were an estimated 6,000 Americans stranded when Irma hit St. Martin.

A New York City woman, named Tiffany Bender, vacationing in St. Martin when Irma hit, told CBS News she ‘honestly doesn’t know’ when she’ll be able to leave. 

‘We are just asking that not just for ourselves — please, please call your local electives, call your assemblymen, call your senators, call your embassies and tell them you have citizens who are stranded here, Anguilla, St. Bart’s and we just need to go home,’ Bender said.

Flights out of the island were suspended on Saturday due to weather that has destroyed buildings

Flights out of the island were suspended on Saturday due to weather that has destroyed buildings

There were an estimated 6,000 Americans stranded when Irma hit St. Martin

There were an estimated 6,000 Americans stranded when Irma hit St. Martin

The department has been heavily criticized for what folks are considering a lackadaisical response to Irma

The department has been heavily criticized for what folks are considering a lackadaisical response to Irma

She told the publication that after contacting the U.S. embassy, they were given a list of hotels on the island that still had power. 

The department has been heavily criticized for what folks are considering a lackadaisical response to Irma. 

Spokeswoman Heather Nauret said Saturday that prior to Irma’s landfall, the State Department assisted in the departure of United States citizens through commercial and charter transportation.

Nauret added that there is a 24-hour task force in place to help assist where needed in response to both Hurricane Irma and Jose which began moving away from the area on Saturday.  

Spokeswoman Heather Nauret said Saturday that prior to Irma's landfall, the State Department assisted in the departure of United States citizens through commercial and charter transportation

Spokeswoman Heather Nauret said Saturday that prior to Irma’s landfall, the State Department assisted in the departure of United States citizens through commercial and charter transportation

Nauret added that there is a 24-hour task force in place to help assist where needed in response to both Hurricane Irma and Jose which began moving away from the area on Saturday 

Nauret added that there is a 24-hour task force in place to help assist where needed in response to both Hurricane Irma and Jose which began moving away from the area on Saturday 

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