MADAME ESTATE--Cable TV is back in most districts after Hurricane Earl's passing last week, St. Maarten Cable TV said Monday.

Technicians are still repairing lines to houses and businesses that the Category II storm knocked down as it brushed through the region. Only a few areas – like Pointe Blanche's Chin Cherry Road and others – remained without cable TV up to Monday, St. Maarten Cable TV Managing Director Beulah Jonis told The Daily Herald.

Areas without cable TV probably have damaged lines, she said.

Jonis urged residents to prune trees and clear away debris from around their homes before storms passed, insisting that basic cleaning could mitigate a storm's impact and speed up service restoration. "They should cut down those trees. Most of the damage is caused by them pulling down lines," Jonis said.

Many places were knocked out of service because of fallen trees and floating debris. However, the only channel that is still out after Earl destroyed three of St. Maarten Cable TV's satellite dishes is a premium channel that had already been experiencing problems.

Technicians are "working area by area" now to put the cables back onto their posts to restore cable TV service, she said, asking customers for their patience.