Maroc - NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 16/Aug 18:35

Trinis preparing for Hurricane Ernesto in Bermuda

BERMUDANS are preparing for the passage of Hurricane Ernesto, which was expected to start affecting the island late on August 16, earlier than expected. The storm is expected to affect the island for as long as 36 hours. There are a few Trinidad and Tobago citizens living there. One Trinidadian who recently moved to Bermuda said she had been advised to batten down, including putting storm shutters on her windows. “Most houses are built with storm doors and shutters on the windows. The roofs here are made of limestone, and not the sheets we're accustomed to in Trinidad, so people aren't as panicked about infrastructural damages here.” She said some of the preparations she and her household had been advised to make were filling the bathtub and all available buckets with water; keeping the air-conditioning on as long as possible until they lost power, because it gets very hot during hurricanes; and keeping a window open to relieve pressure inside the house. She said as she normally ordered groceries online, she could not say if people were rushing to stock up on groceries. “I was able to order groceries online on Thursday and have it delivered, no problem. "Businesses are closing early. Everything will be closed today (Friday) by 4 pm, with the wind expected to pick up today at 5 pm. “I can say people are very calm. For the locals, this is very much not their first rodeo, so everyone is very very calmly making their preparations and readying themselves to get through the storm.” At a media conference on Friday, Bermuda Weather Service director Michelle Pritchard said as at noon that day, Hurricane Ernesto was expected to make its closest approach at 8 am on Saturday. It was expected to be a strong Category 1 or a weak Category 2 as it passed the area. She asked citizens to pay attention to the forecast, as this was a few hours earlier than expected, and said conditions would continue to deteriorate into the afternoon. Pritchard said 36-40 hours of over-50 knot winds were expected and it would be a long-duration event. She said over three inches of rain had been recorded overnight by the Bermuda Weather Service, with Ernesto possibly bringing another five-eight or more inches of rain. She said the eye of the hurricane was expected to pass over the west end of the island or possibly the entire island. She reminded the population it was not recommended to go outside into the eye of a hurricane. “While the winds do dramatically decrease, please remember, those hurricane-force winds are right there at the back of the eye wall – and you are not going to see or possibly hear them coming.” Bermudan National Security Minister Michael Weeks said the island was facing an intense and prolonged period of at least 36 hours of sustained, life-threatening winds that would begin around 2 pm on Friday and last into Sunday. He said the Emergency Measures Organisation had met and made the following decisions. The causeway would close at 9 pm on Friday and the Minister of Public Works would do a thorough assessment before it could be reopened. The LF Wade International Airport would be closed at 8 pm on Friday. A British Airways flight would leave at 6.30 pm. He urged people with travel plans to stay informed and make the necessary arrangements. He said shelters would open earlier, at 5 pm, and were available to all residents, particularly the vulnerable, especially those who needed electricity for oxygen machines, and those without a place to stay. Weeks said no ferry services would operate, the last bus would run at 6 pm and there would be no public transport on Saturday. He urged people to stay sheltered.For those in need of emergency medical care, the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre at St David would open at 8 pm. He said there were ambulances stationed at strategic places around the island but once winds reached 50 knots, ambulance crews would not be able to go out, for safety reasons, but fire trucks would be able to do so if needed, depending on weather conditions. Government offices would serve their last customers at 3 pm and close at 4 pm. He said people could tune in to the emergency broadcast system during the storm, beginning at 8 pm on Friday. “This is not a storm to be taken lightly. We are about to endure 36 hours of tropical-storm-force winds. This is a significant period of time to be under such conditions, and it presents a considerable risk to life and property. If you do not take these warnings seriously, you are putting yourself in danger, and the lives of any emergency personnel who may be called to assist you. Like Pritchard, he warned people not tobe fooled by the calm of the ye at the centre of the storm. "As the eye moves away, the rain and winds will dangerously pick up again with full force. Venturing outside during this period could put your life at serious risk. The second half of the storm will be just as intense, if not more so.” He said swimming in the sea would be extremely foolhardy, and should not be contemplated, as lifeguard services had been suspended. He called on the population to stay inside and stay safe during the storm, which was likely to be all day on Saturday, until the all-clear is given. He said preparedness, vigilance, and common sense were essential to protect lives and property as the storm could cause widespread damage. Premier David Burton also called on the population to take the hurricane seriously. “This is a long-duration wind event. Storms are unpredictable: there can be a few shifts, but we are expecting a long period of sustained winds. It’s important you huddle up, make your preparations are done, check in on your neighbours, check on the vulnerable, make sure you listen to official broadcasts – and please stay safe.” Ernesto passed over northern Guadeloupe, causing several roads to be closed and affecting water supply, Montserrat and just west of St Kitts and Nevis. Rainfall, storm surge, and heavy winds affected all the islands. As it strengthened, Ernesto left approximately half of Puerto Rico without power and island-wide blackouts were reported in St John and St Croix. The post Trinis preparing for Hurricane Ernesto in Bermuda appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.