Video: Govt Post-Ernesto Press Conference

Premier David Burt and the Minister of National Security Michael Weeks held a press conference today [August 18] to provide an update following Hurricane Ernesto.

Premier David Burt’s full statement follows below:

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I want to express my gratitude to the Minister of National Security – Minister Michael Weeks, his team and all EMO members – who have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents during Hurricane Ernesto.

Special thank you to the Department of Communications and Police Media Relations – who have supported the Emergency Broadcast Station and kept the island up to date with the latest developments and guidance.

Bermuda has once again demonstrated its resilience in the face of Hurricane Ernesto.

We have made significant progress in restoring services, through support from Public Works, the Bermuda Regiment and BELCO. It is estimated that we will return to business as usual tomorrow.

My message to all is that Bermuda is resilient, but there are many that are still recovering. Please check in on your neighbors, seniors and the vulnerable. Bermuda comes together in times of crisis, let us continue to support each other as we recover.

All of those who are in our communities, restoring services – you have the country’s thanks. Thank you for your dedication, leaving your family to take care of our Bermuda Family.

As I close, I want to remind everyone that we are still in hurricane season. It is crucial that we remain vigilant and prepared for any possible future storms.

Thank you

Minister of National Security Michael Weeks’ full statement follows below:

Good afternoon,

I am happy to inform all of Bermuda that because of our community’s commitment to being prepared and staying safe, Bermuda made it through Hurricane Ernesto without any injuries or major incidents.

I want to express my gratitude to everyone for taking this storm seriously and for your resilience and commitment to protecting our island home. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the hardworking Emergency Measures Organisation [EMO] members and our dedicated Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation team [DRRM] for their expert guidance in keeping the public safe.

I also want to thank the Bermuda Weather Service for their advice and accurate updates pertaining to this storm.

We also deeply appreciate the Bermuda Police Service, the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service [BFRS], Public Works, the Department of Parks, our utility teams at Belco, BTC/Digicel, One Communication and the other support services for your tireless efforts before, during, and after Hurricane Ernesto.

Steady progress is being made to clear the roads and restore power. I am happy to advise that of the 26,000 plus customers who lost power, over 17,000 of those customers have been restored and BELCO is making very good progress with the remaining customers without power.

When you see these hard-working crews out there, please spare a thought and show appreciation for their efforts as they sacrifice time away from their families to serve our community.

I will now share some other 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. It opened at 8:45 am this morning.
• In addition, the section of South Road in Smith’s Parish between Watch Hill Park and John Smith’s Bay which was closed on Friday is now open and passable.
• Most of the main roads have been cleared and are passable. However, there is considerable work being done on Orange Valley. and the public is advised to avoid this area until further notice.
• Belco crews are working on Somerset Road, between Sound View Road and Scott’s Hill Road. Traffic is being diverted to Sound View Road.
• Public transportation: The Department of Public Transportation anticipates that public bus services will resume normal operations tomorrow, Monday, August 19, 2024.
•  Ferry services will resume on Monday, August 19th at noon.
• Beaches: The Lifeguard Service plans to resume normal services on Monday, August 19th. Beaches will be open tomorrow.
• Airport operations returned to normal at 12 noon today. Travellers should check with their respective airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.
• Cruise ships will resume calls tomorrow.
• All Government Offices and services will open as normal tomorrow.
• The Tynes Bay Public drop-off and main plant remain open until 7 pm this evening. They return to their regular schedule tomorrow.
• Marsh Folly commercial drop-off site is open today and will open as normal tomorrow.
• The Government Shelter is now closed.

The Bermuda Weather Service reports that Ernesto continues to move away to our distant north. Conditions are now more settled and we are anticipating no disruption to our continued restoration efforts.

While the immediate threat from the hurricane has diminished, the seas remain rough and residents and visitors should continue to be very cautious on our beaches.

The safety and well-being of our residents and visitors remain our top priority.

People will be busy cleaning up after the storm today and during the coming week, and I urge everyone to exercise caution and safety while doing so.

For up-to-date weather information, please visit the Bermuda Weather Service, the official weather authority for Bermuda.

Bermuda, we successfully weathered this storm through our preparation, resilience and unified efforts. By working hand in hand, arm in arm, we minimised the damage to our island, our community, and each other. I could not be more proud of what we have accomplished!

Thank you.

Click here for all of our coverage of Hurricane Ernesto, and click here for our ongoing live updates on the storm.

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