EMO Statement: Buses, Ferries, Causeway & More

The Hon. Wayne Perinchief J.P., M.P., Minister of National Security today convened a second meeting of the Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) to prepare for Hurricane Leslie which is forecast to impact Bermuda by the weekend.

The latest forecast from the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) is for Hurricane Leslie to intensify into a category 2 hurricane with wind speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour and to pass close by the island early on Sunday morning.

Hurricane Leslie is almost stationary with some forecast models predicting the storm will pass by to our east and some predicting it will pass to our west.

As of the 12 noon advisory, Leslie’s closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hours (3 days) is forecast to be 114 nautical miles to the East South East at 12 noon on Sunday, September 9, 2012.

Minister Perinchief said: “Today’s meeting of the EMO included our private sector partners whose state of readiness is critical to restoring normalcy to the Island after any storm. Each partner agency reported that their own plans are well advanced and Bermuda can be confident that once the storm has passed a well coordinated response to critical issues is planned. We heard from the Bermuda Weather Service that Leslie continues to be a highly unpredictable storm and that the forecast track and intensity could vary during the next 72 hours so we must all pay close attention to the official updates issued by the EMO. Residents can find all the information they need to prepare on the EMO website at www.emo.gov.bm”

The Minister added: “I want to reiterate that neighbours and friends should include in their preparations checking on the safety and preparedness of our seniors.”

The Minister also advised that the public should only rely on official Government information on the storm. This information will be distributed to all local media through the Department of Communication and Information and will be updated on the EMO website.

The public are also reminded that final storm preparations should be completed by the evening of Friday, September 7th at the latest.

The Causeway will remain open until sustained winds exceed 50 knots which is expected to occur late Saturday afternoon. A decision will be made when to close the Causeway in the coming days and notice will be sent in advance of the closure. Residents should also be aware that the Causeway may remain closed for an extended period of time due to the expected duration of hurricane force winds.

An emergency shelter will be opened at CedarBridge Academy at 12 p.m. on Saturday, September 8. A contact number for the shelter is 292 6339.

Public schools will be closed to all students on Friday, September 7, but teachers and principals should report to their schools on Friday in order to prepare for the storm. A decision will be made on when schools will open following passage of the storm.

Government offices will close early at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 7th to allow people to go home to prepare for the storm. Critical areas such as border control and Government transportation services will, however, remain operational. The re-opening of Government offices will be advised after the passage of the storm.

The Department of Airport Operations (DAO) will continue to closely assess the latest weather forecast information and is expected to announce tomorrow when the Airport will close. Those scheduled to travel Saturday, Sunday or Monday, are urged to check with their respective airline. DAO has also advised residents who may have cars parked in any areas of the LF Wade International Airport to remove them before the storm hits as this area is prone to flooding.

Concerning public transportation, buses will continue to run on Saturday, September 8 until sustained winds exceed 40 knots. The Sea Express Ferry Service will run to the end of the day on Friday, September 7 but all services will be suspended on Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9.

Residents are advised to check their emergency kits to be sure supplies are adequate. A typical emergency kit would include items such as flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, non–perishable foods, an ample water supply and disposable utensils. An updated Disaster Advisory Plan is posted on the Government Portal on the Ministry of Health website.

For those needing treatment for any health issues, the Urgent Care Centre in St. David’s will be open, as will King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Residents in low lying areas prone to flooding should take the necessary precautions as it is likely the storm surge coupled with the long duration of the storm will coincide with high tides, leading to flooding.

Those residents with boats should make certain that their vessels are properly secured to prevent damage. It is also recommended that residents tie down any loose outdoor furniture or potted plants to prevent undue damage.

The public are encouraged to tune in to regular news reports and updates regarding Hurricane Leslie particularly as it relates to possible changes in ferry and bus schedules.

Once the storm starts to impact the island Government’s emergency broadcast station on 100.1 FM will begin broadcasting and provide updates every hour.

For more information on Hurricane Leslie, residents can tune in to or log on to the following:

 Hurricane preparedness: www.emo.gov.bm <http://www.emo.gov.bm/>

 Online weather updates: www.weather.bm <http://www.weather.bm/>

 Televised weather updates: CableVision Ch. 4 and WOW Ch. 100

 For The Public Forecast: Dial 977

 For The Current Observation: Dial 9771

 For The Marine Forecast Dial: 9772

 For Latest Warnings & Tropical Information: Dial 9773

 Government’s Emergency Broadcast station is on 100.1 FM.

Hurricane season officially began June 1, and concludes on November 30, 2012.

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