Cayman Reps Attend National Hurricane Conference

By: CIG Public Relations

Premier Honourable Juliana O’Connor-Connolly along with Director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, Dani Coleman and Director General, National Weather Service, John Tibbetts attended the National Hurricane Conference held in Orlando, Florida from 25-28 March. The conference is a major annual event for education and professional development in hurricane and disaster preparedness.

The team was also joined by Cabinet Secretary, Samuel Rose, who is now the Chief Officer for both the Hazard Management Cayman Islands and the Cayman Islands National Weather Service.

The aim of the National Hurricane Conference is to improve hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in order to save lives and property in the United States and the islands of the Caribbean and Pacific. In addition, the conference serves as a national forum for federal, state and local officials to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve emergency management.

Premier O’Connor-Connolly who has prioritised the Islands’ emergency readiness, increasing hurricane shelter space, improving support to vulnerable communities during disasters and repairing of the weather radar prior to the start of the 2024 hurricane season stated, “It is important to build relationships and join these forums in order to learn what is new not only in hurricane preparation but across the spectrum of disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.”

“It has been useful for me and the team to participate in these highly informative workshops and presentations. This year marks 20 years since the passage of Hurricane Ivan.  Hurricanes represent perhaps the most significant and impactful events that affect the Cayman Islands.  Effective management requires inter-agency collaboration at all levels of government to protect lives, property and the environment effectively,” she further observed.  

Some of the topics being emphasised during the four-day conference include lessons learned from previous hurricane strikes, state of the art programmes worthy of emulation, advancements in forecasting and weather prediction and best practice across hazard management, mitigation and recovery.

In commenting on the importance of the conference, Director Dani Coleman noted, “With hundreds of people in attendance at the conference, it will certainly provide us with excellent information on hurricane preparedness, response and recovery, and a great opportunity to interact with a wide range of industry professionals and key decision-makers as we prepare for the upcoming season.”

Similarly, Director General of the National Weather Service John Tibbetts stated, “The forum has been great so far. I have been maximising on the opportunity to meet with a number of weather experts at the National Hurricane Center to discuss predictions for this year which will be announced here and learn more about the Center’s experimental tropical cyclone forecast cone graphic, and other new products that will benefit the Cayman Islands, just in time for the busiest months of the Atlantic hurricane season.”

The National Hurricane Conference attracts government officials, meteorologists, emergency management officials, public information officers, law enforcement, armed forces disaster preparedness officials, planners, port authority officials, news media, voluntary agency representatives and others in related areas from around the United States, the Caribbean and Canada.