Comments on: Videos/Updates: Tropical Storm Maria

By: Photos: Tree Crashes On St George’s Roof | Bernews.com

Photos: Tree Crashes On St George’s Roof | Bernews.com — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 10:38:58 +0000

[...] tree falling was presumably caused by the increased winds from the passing of Tropical Storm Maria this afternoon. Maria’s closest point of approach was at approximately 1pm today, when it was 101 [...]

By: iyt

iyt — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 21:28:09 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0VUFNwO6go

By: Billee The Kidd

Billee The Kidd — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:33:03 +0000

I too agree

By: Billee The Kidd

Billee The Kidd — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:31:55 +0000

Thanks for the update student.

By: Weather lookout

Weather lookout — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:17:10 +0000

Thank you for your timely and accurate updates as always, Bernews!

By: Berkeley Student

Berkeley Student — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:28:28 +0000

The fire alarm went off. Smoke in the science room- sensitive alarm.

By: Vix

Vix — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:52:22 +0000

Thank you! Be safe!

By: bernews

bernews — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:12:39 +0000

And now officially confirmed…

By: bernews

bernews — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:08:27 +0000

This is what we were made to understand, just waiting on official confirmation before we add it as an update…

“All commuter services to Rockaway, Cavello Bay, Paget and Warwick will operate to schedule commencing at 4:10pm. Watford Bridge, Dockyard and St. George’s will remain suspended until further notice.”

By: Vix

Vix — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:03:21 +0000

Bernews, please confirm if the ferries are running. Co-workers are calling M&P and they say y es, but your site says no…thanks!

By: Aa

Aa — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:38:01 +0000

Stopped by the Post Office and they said that they heard that the Afterschool Program has been cancelled in the Gov School. Please can you confirm this as there is only 22 mins left before school finishes and am at work.

By: Martin Petersen

Martin Petersen — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:30:43 +0000

Have anybody seen what the cruise ships in port there are doing???

By: Wondering

Wondering — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:18:21 +0000

agree as well

By: Got to go

Got to go — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:58:13 +0000

Sorry mate, I have to disagree. I prefer to err on the side of safety, than have a mass panic of parents trying to pick up their children from school or trying to get across the causeway before it is suddenly shut down. Safety first!

By: cottage

cottage — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:38:55 +0000

it is not like a winter storm… very different from it, that is why it is called something different, looks different, acts different, is (usually) taken seriously, it is (usually) understood that it is harder to predict & can change quickly. This is why they are named & given the hype they deserve. Not saying that some winter storms don’t have higher winds and don’t do damage… just they are NOT the same.

By: cottage

cottage — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:32:26 +0000

but you are certainly right about the causeway and swell. It is the swell & seas that washed away parts of the causeway & the victims… not the winds.

By: cottage

cottage — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:31:21 +0000

It’s because tropical systems are more complex, sometimes smaller, with less information about them than winter storms. It seems like small changes in direction or strength mean a big difference some times to what you actually get or feel.

By: KillarBlaze

KillarBlaze — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:21:10 +0000

The people living in St. George’s won’t cause the island to shut down. No one saying shut the island down just let us east end workers get home or stay home. Some workers can continue working without being in an office. Just saying…laptop, DSL/Cable connection, this is 2011 after all.

By: joonya

joonya — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:13:27 +0000

Well done TLB.

By: TLB

TLB — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:58:38 +0000

Sometimes in times like these, you have to use your common sense, and use your best
judgement and not always rely on the government. I as a mother was not going to
allow my young daughter, to be stuck on the wrong side on the bridge. Her school
being in Paget and home being St Georges. The buses do not run properly as it is.
The bridge could be closed down before the bus crosses it. And hurricanes are
not stable they go where they want.I personally do what i believe is right for safety of my family.

By: Eastern

Eastern — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:42:08 +0000

@ me

I have travelled over the Causeway dailey for the last 40 years (and most of it on a motorbike) and at times in winds up to 70 knots. Remember it is not the wind that washes the causeway out; it is water. Maria is passing a hundred miles to our West and the possibility of a massive storm surge as in Fabian is much less. It is the storm surge combined with the waves that destroys the causeway, not wind. Water travelling across Castle Harbour from the South, combined with a storm surge and high seas reaches the causeway and has no where to go but up and over it. Did you not notice that in Fabian the parts of the causeway that didn’t get washed out were where there were arches under the causeway. If the water can’t go under the causeway it has no choice but to go up and over it, which causes the damage. Did you know that water moving at five knots has the same strength as a 200 m.p.h. wind. It is the water, not the wind.
No need to panic as the storm’s closest point of approach is in about a half an hour (just after 1p.m.) The winds should start to subside by 6 p.m. or before.

By: Wondering

Wondering — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:21:28 +0000

should you find out – please let us know, my daughter is a student there…. could have been a fire alarm was triggered….. – they should let them go to the Gymnasium…

By: Talk2mestr8

Talk2mestr8 — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:19:46 +0000

Yes and back in the day we didn’t have cold hearted bus drivers who just don’t give a damn about anything or anyone but themselves!! I watched and heard a bus driver tell several children (at all 3 levels) this morning to go home the buses were being cancelled! I told the kids to stay put…7 mins later a bus came off Berkeley Road!! So @ Pastor Sly – I hope you do not have any kids riding public transportation today!!

By: me

me — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:48:23 +0000

Am i the only one thinking this doesnt seem so bad? We have winter days worse than this. I dont know what all the talk of school closure is for.

By: Pastor Syl

Pastor Syl — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:47:59 +0000

There is a fine balancing act between shutting down the island for a big blow and allowing businesses to ‘be about their business.’ I don’t blame anybody for waiting until the last hour or two to make a decision. The days of staying home from work or school because of a hard rain are long gone.
In all the years before we lost those unfortunates on the bridge, and the bridge was destroyed, there was seldom a thought of closing the bridge. Admittedly, some caution needs to be taken, but, let’s be real, in this financial climate, it isn’t feasible to disrupt everything on the possible threat of a hurricane, especially tropical storm that may not even become a Category One.

By: joonya

joonya — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:47:27 +0000

Would you speak with that tone and language to the families who lost loved ones during Fabian? Hurricanes are serious matters.

By: Kells

Kells — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:33:19 +0000

I think it was a nursery school…Kiddie Academy.

By: KillarBlaze

KillarBlaze — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:27:28 +0000

Drove by the airport at 8:05am. Someone was getting a ticket. Western side I did not see any police officers. Anyway, does anyone remember the last time the causeway closed? The notice came out around 4:00pm, leaving anyone heading east past the airport 30 minutes to make it across and most of us living in St. George’s were trapped on the wrong side for a good 4 or 5 hours sitting in our cars. Plus the gas station closed on time. lol talk about a lost opportunity to make a few extra dollars. Looking out my 5th floor office wall (it’s glass) all seems to be fine. The calm before the storm. Posted 11:27 am for reference.

By: Wondering

Wondering — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:13:20 +0000

Note – The policeman on the St. George side had one not so happy fella just by the ole bridge and the splashes were coming over the causeway near Blue Hole hill – not sure if tide was coming or going…

We need to take notes from Mayor Bloomberg and all of the Mayors along the Eastern Seaboard make your decision and make it early – see what happepned in Vermont – bridges washed away – I don’t need to live through another Fabian (causeway washed out) experience – not claiming, just noting.

By: Luppy

Luppy — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:12:02 +0000

Hoping it doesn’t really make up too much – especially since my child is in school in warwick. Can you imagine the pandemonium if we have to go get our kids in the height of the storm. Not well thought out at all! But then again, these days not much is. We have such a reactive government – hoping for a proactive change!!!!

By: idiots

idiots — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:06:31 +0000

yeah thats exactly what i saw no type of monitoring conditions jus tryna monitor the traffic. And thy wonder y they get no love from the public

By: Babs

Babs — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:55:46 +0000

I agree with most of what is being said here however would like to point out that most, if not all, businesses also expect their staff to be at work all day today regardless of the fact that schools may close early and with little thought to the safety of their employees. Whilst I dont agree with shutting the Island down whenever there is a stiff breeze, I do think that when there is potential for hurricane strength winds the most important thing on everyones minds should be safety.

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:51:12 +0000

Decision making is not one of Gover(n)ments….well yah no. Better to er on the side of caution. People won’t critisise if nothing gets really bad. Really, they won’t…….

By: Talk2mestr8

Talk2mestr8 — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:51:01 +0000

What is happening at the Berkeley Institute?? Hearing alarms and sirens….and the kids out in the rain!!!!

By: Bermyman

Bermyman — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:44:19 +0000

They don’t know what they are doing because they are not meteorologists and for some reason seem to be ignoring all the information from actual meteorologists. I really hope that no one is hurt, today should not be business as usual but as usual we have a very poorly run and managed part of the government who are currenlty failing the public. Make a safe decision for yourself and head home now!

By: Not Surprised

Not Surprised — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:41:20 +0000

Absolutely, this is not the BWS decision, this is a government decision, and one that should have been made this morning. Not “oh let wait till closer to the time then make a decision” Sigh, but then again i have come to expect ignorant decisions or lack of decision, from this bunch. They are on Bermuda time, Last minute and late!

By: Not Surprised

Not Surprised — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:34:43 +0000

A little disaapointed that we are hearing nothing on any plans.Is this going to be left for last minute? I think government needs to consider some forward planning and allow ample time for people to secure their families in the event of this getting worse (collecting children from school getting home safely). I know it’s like a winter storm, but can they please communicate with the public? It’s like crickets (dead silence, with just the sound of crickets). Are we going to here of what to do when we are in the worst of it and put outselves at risk and our children at risk. I have a few nervous mothers here at work that travel by bike with their childrenm do we really want to endanger these individuals?? SMDH at least governement could be a bit more vocal and let us know what they think ir don’t think and what time they are going to make decisions. They last thing we need to hear is “Is to dangerous to travel over the cause way and we will be closing it in an half and hour”

By: bernews

bernews — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:32:21 +0000

As of 10.30am, Government said all public schools are open….

By: cottage

cottage — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:30:44 +0000

It is the EMO who make the causeway decision & pubic notices. If anyone has been paying attention as they should do in hurricane season, esp when a tropical storm or hurricane is heading our way, then they would know that BWS has had this system covered since it began. It is true I think EMO should have called a storm day today & children should NOT have gone to school… even based on the Hurricane Watch issued yesterday!

By: Bermyman

Bermyman — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:21:21 +0000

You’re 100% right , just another case of the government not knowing what they are doing, probably because no one was out of bed early enough to make a decision. So we have a potential hurricane next to us with 50-60kt forecasted but we still send people to school and work. Around 1pm today there is going to be complete chaos as you said. If you live in St Georges or St.Davids I would head home now because if your office or school closes you will be stuck for most of the afternoon. There is still Tornado potential from a storm like this!

By: SuperMom

SuperMom — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:19:16 +0000

Any news on whats happening with the schools yet? Heard that one closed already, but cant get confirmation….

By: bernews

bernews — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:08:21 +0000

LOL. Thanks…we managed to miss that, didn’t see them on that side at 9am.

By: bernews

bernews — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:07:50 +0000

No clue right now….we’ve asked about buses, so are waiting on official word…

By: Captain

Captain — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:59:21 +0000

” Although officials said police officers were stationed on both sides, we did not see any sign of a police presence on the St George’s side.”

They were there at about 7:30 am, right on the roundabout…….with the speed gun!!!!

By: Interesting

Interesting — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:58:56 +0000

Thanks Bernews for the update. This morning on my way to work around 8:00am I did see the police on the St.George’s side with the radar. And we did get a few slapshes as we drove cross the causeway something we experience often in winter weather. Hope all stay safe crossing.
Thanks again for the update.

By: SMH

SMH — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:54:35 +0000

Thanks BERNEWS. You’re beating the pants off the other guys who ain’t even tried to change until you came along. Heck! Even Defontes is trying new stuff!

By: joonya

joonya — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:49:22 +0000

I wonder if you will have the same joviality when your missing 10 ft of your roof..

By: 1minute

1minute — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:48:45 +0000

Do you know if it is rumour or fact that the buses going west will be cancelled this afternoon?

By: CB

CB — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:39:06 +0000

Bermuda has to be the only country in the world that makes closure decisions based on conditions “right now”, as in, “right now, the causeway is passable, so we have no plans to close it but we will reassess closer to the closest point of approach”. Has BWS lost so much credibility that we no longer use their forecast to predict conditions? Also, I’m not sure how relevant conditions at the causeway are for a storm passing to the West of the island – shouldn’t we monitor conditions in Somerset, i.e. the part of the island closest to the storm’s centre?

If they do determine to close the causeway, it will be chaos getting kids out of schools and people out of town, which leads me to believe we will all be riding this little blow out in our schools and offices.

By: oh my

oh my — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:35:19 +0000

what’s wrong with uptight ass, people are just joking around jackass