Govt: Buses, Ferries, Causeway, Airport, More
“Bermuda has emerged from the passage of Hurricane Lee overnight successfully thanks to our community’s commitment to preparedness and safety,” the Government said.
A spokesperson said, “The Ministry of National Security is pleased to report that the Island has weathered the storm successfully, without injuries or significant incidents.
Acting Minister of National Security Lt. Col. David Burch expressed his gratitude to the public, stating, “The collective efforts of our residents, businesses, and response teams have proven once again that our island community is prepared and vigilant when it matters most.
“I commend everyone for taking this storm seriously and their dedication to safeguarding our island home.
“However, we must remain vigilant, as weather forecasters are currently tracking Tropical Depression 15, which, though distant in the Atlantic, is forecast to head in our general direction by next week.
“Our island’s preparedness is an ongoing effort, and we must remain proactive in responding to potential threats.”
Important updates:
- “Engineers with the Ministry of Public Works assessed the Causeway this morning and confirmed that it remains structurally sound and cleared for regular use.
- “Public transportation: Due to power failures at the St. George’s and Devonshire Bus depots, public bus services will remain suspended for today, Friday, 15 September, and will resume normal services tomorrow, Saturday, 16 September.
- “All ferry services, except for the Orange Route [Dockyard to St. George’s], will resume normal services on Saturday morning, 16 September, per the normal published schedule.
- “The Department of Marine & Ports is in the process of repairing storm-related damage to a dock in Dockyard, which is expected to result in services to Dockyard running slower than normal.
- “Parks & Beaches: The Lifeguard Service plans to resume normal duties on Sunday, weather permitting. Assessments conducted by the Department of Parks reported no major incidents in regard to tree damage; however, there were a number of locations where branches were obstructing lane[s] of traffic and, therefore, were removed at the time of assessment by individual Parks’ personnel.
- “Airport operations resumed as of 1 p.m. today. Travellers should check with their respective airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.
- “All in-person Government services resumed today at 12 noon.
- “The Tynes Bay Public drop-off and main plant remain open tomorrow, Saturday, 16 September, according to their regular schedule and will be available through the weekend. We are aware that some residents’ garbage was not collected today due to trees blocking garbage trucks. Affected residents can expect their trash to be collected on Saturday, 16 September.
- “Marsh Folly commercial drop-off will be open as normal tomorrow, 16 September, from 7.30 a.m. to noon, with the public drop-off available through the weekend.
“The Bermuda Weather Service reports that the latest information from the National Hurricane Center indicates that sustained Tropical Storm force winds were expected to exit our north marine area by 3 p.m.
“A Small Craft Warning is expected to be in place thereafter, and we can expect Tropical Storm force gusts to persist into the evening.
“While the immediate threat from the hurricane has diminished, the seas remain rough and residents and visitors should refrain from swimming for the time being.
Minister Burch added: “The safety and well-being of our residents and visitors remain our top priority. We will continue closely monitoring weather conditions to ensure that Bermuda remains secure.
“I know that people will be busy today and over the weekend cleaning up following the storm, and I urge everyone to exercise caution and safety.
“I want to thank not only the public for its resilience, but also the hardworking members of the Emergency Measures Organisation [EMO] and our dedicated Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation team [DRRM] for providing the necessary guidance to ensure the public remained safe.”
“For up-to-date weather information, please visit the Bermuda Weather Service, the official weather authority for Bermuda.”
You can see all our coverage of Hurricane Lee here, and our ongoing live updates on Hurricane Lee here.
