Preparations underway for potential severe weather

The Cayman Islands Government, through the Cayman Islands National Weather Service (CINWS) and Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI), continues to monitor a disturbance in the eastern Caribbean which developed into a tropical depression overnight.

Current forecasts predict continued strengthening and the predicted path takes the potential tropical cyclone over the Cayman Islands early next week.

Both CINWS and Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) are undertaking readiness exercises to ensure the Cayman Islands is prepared for any eventualities.

Premier and Minister of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Hon. G. Wayne Panton urged the Cayman Islands public to take early precautions and stay tuned to official sources for updates.

“Please take every effort to ensure your families, homes and businesses are prepared for any severe weather impacts which may come our way over the next few days. Do not wait until the last minute to make sure you have your emergency plan and supplies in place,” he said. “The Cayman Islands Government, through the Weather Service and Hazard Management, will continue to provide timely updates on this developing weather system. Please continue to monitor official sources for accurate information and guidance.”

HMCI coordinates national readiness initiatives

While the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has not yet been activated, HMCI is liaising with a variety of stakeholders to ensure national preparedness for any severe weather impacts, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Governor’s Office, Office of the Premier, the Cayman Islands Regiment and Cayman Islands Red Cross.

HMCI Director Danielle Coleman says her team is focused on operational readiness.

“HMCI has been busy working to ensure operational readiness of the National Emergency Operations Centre in anticipation of an activation. We have also been focused on ensuring logistical arrangements are in place for provisioning and activating emergency shelters and readying relief items for post-impact distribution,” she said.

In the event of a NEOC activation, the Continuity of Operations Support Team will ensure coverage of all critical Government functions.

For more information on how to prepare your home, family and business for a severe weather event, please visit www.caymanprepared.ky or follow HMCI on Facebook and Twitter.

The public is also encouraged to download the National Emergency Notification System app for live alerts from HMCI in the event of an emergency by visiting: https://nens.gov.ky/

CINWS to start 24-hour shift from Saturday

Starting Saturday, 24 September, CINWS staff will start a 24-hour shift to take weather observations and carry out balloon releases which will provide data to better analyse the approaching system.

CINWS Director General John Tibbetts said his team is paying close attention to Invest 98L and is monitoring a variety of factors affecting development and movement of the system.

“The CINWS team is using all the tools at our disposal to monitor this developing system and we will continue to provide updates to the Cayman Islands public and issue warnings as needed,” he said.

For more information, please visit https://www.weather.gov.ky/ or follow CINWS on Facebook.