Minister Caines On Hurricane Preparedness
Following the ‘official’ start of hurricane season on June 1st, Minister of National Security Wayne Caines is advising everyone to “check and restock all of your hurricane supplies so that we will not be caught out in the event of a hurricane.”
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Minister Caines reminded the public that Hurricane Season runs each year from June 1st until November 30th.
“Whilst Bermuda was spared the impacts from any tropical storm during the 2017 hurricane season, the season observed 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes,” the Minister said.
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“This year forecasters are predicting that storms will be stronger and wetter going forward in the 2018 season. The first predictions have been issued and all agencies are predicting a slightly above average year, with 13 named storms, 7 of which will become hurricanes, and 3 of which are predicted to escalate into major hurricanes. We must always remember that it only takes one hurricane to make it a busy year.
“The Emergency Measures Organisation will hold an Executive Meeting at 10am on Thursday, June 14th, to discuss the island’s plans for readiness for this hurricane season,” Minister Caines added.
“Government remains committed to establishing a Department of Disaster Management, which will fall under the Ministry of National Security. This new department is being created to identify and manage the threats and hazards that Bermuda faces; including hurricanes and other weather related events, cybersecurity, air crashes, cruise ship incidents, oil spills and any other risks that Bermuda may face.
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“New legislation will soon be drafted that will codify the remit, authority and composition of the Emergency Measures Organisation, and set the governance framework for Bermuda’s Department of Disaster Management.
“I wish to close by reminding the public that now is the time to get prepared for a hurricane. As we begin the summer season, remember to check and restock all of your hurricane supplies so that we will not be caught out in the event of a hurricane. Bermuda has been blessed in previous hurricane seasons.”
“In the past we have mostly been spared,” the Minister said. “But we must continue to be prepared.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to remind Honourable Members and the public that Hurricane Season runs each year from June 1st until November 30th. On May 25th, before the season had officially started, we saw the first named tropical cyclone of the year, Tropical Storm Alberto.
Mr. Speaker, whilst Bermuda was spared the impacts from any tropical storm during the 2017 hurricane season, the season observed 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes which included records set for:
- i. Maximum rainfall, 60 inches from Hurricane Harvey,
- ii. Maximum sustained winds, Hurricane Irma at 180mph,
- iii. Longest lived Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Irma at 3.25 days; and
- iv. The first time two Category 4 Hurricanes made landfall in the same year, Harvey and Irma.
This year Mr. Speaker, forecasters are predicting that storms will be stronger and wetter going forward in the 2018 season. The first predictions have been issued and all agencies are predicting a slightly above average year, with 13 named storms, 7 of which will become hurricanes, and 3 of which are predicted to escalate into major hurricanes. We must always remember that it only takes one hurricane to make it a busy year.
The Emergency Measures Organisation will hold an Executive Meeting at 10am on Thursday, June 14th, to discuss the island’s plans for readiness for this hurricane season.
Mr. Speaker, as the risk capital of the world, it is important that Bermuda is ready for hurricane season. To this end, this Government remains committed to establishing a Department of Disaster Management, which will fall under the Ministry of National Security. This new department is being created to identify and manage the threats and hazards that Bermuda faces; including hurricanes and other weather related events, cybersecurity, air crashes, cruise ship incidents, oil spills and any other risks that Bermuda may face.
Mr. Speaker, new legislation will soon be drafted that will codify the remit, authority and composition of the Emergency Measures Organisation, and set the governance framework for Bermuda’s Department of Disaster Management.
In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, this Government is being dynamic, by utilizing existing staff to put a greater focus on Disaster Risk Management, and the development of comprehensive disaster plans across all threats and hazards.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to close by reminding the public that now is the time to get prepared for a hurricane. As we begin the summer season, remember to check and restock all of your hurricane supplies so that we will not be caught out in the event of a hurricane. Bermuda has been blessed in previous hurricane seasons.
Mr. Speaker, in the past we have mostly been spared.
But Mr. Speaker, we must continue to be prepared.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Sounds like a school teacher talking to their students. Thanks, but I think every Bermudian knows how to prepare for a hurricane by now. We get slammed every other year. Sometimes twice.
Flashlight;
Candles;
Water;
Soda?…No, to expensive!.. aha.. Beer and wine! Great deals!
Every Bermudian might know, but we have a lot of guest workers here as well that may be approaching their very first hurricane season so this information can be very useful.
I’ll skip on the beer and wine – just pass me the rum!
Do something useful for once Caine’s please. Get on with the people’s business and earn your keep.
We are being over run by rats because of the 1 day pick up
When it becomes an epidemic which it will what will the minister do?
I am bringing in a significant amount of vermin poison pellets to protect my family
Time to put all those feral cats to work, stop having the people stopping by to feed the cats & let their natural instincts kick in.
Pied Piper?
He needs to tame his house of assembly hurricane mouth