By: Takiyah Smith
The Cayman Islands remains under a Hurricane Warning this evening as the country anticipates Hurricane Beryl.
As of 4:30pm today, Tuesday 2 July 2024, Hurricane Beryl was about 735 miles east-southeast of Grand Cayman and is moving at 22 miles per hour, going west-northwest. The storm is currently registering maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour.
''Firstly, I extend my prayers and thoughts to our regional neighbours who have already been impacted by Hurricane Beryl. From what we have seen thus far, vigilance and preparedness are critical to preventing extensive damage to property, infrastructure and most importantly, loss of life", said Hon. Premier Julianna O'Connor-Connolly.
''The next 36 hours require us to ensure our yards are free of potential projectiles, food and medication supplies are stocked and structural assessments to homes and businesses are completed. Battening down is essential and accommodations for the vulnerable – seniors, those who are medically impaired, heavily expectant mothers – should be made by now. Our aim at the start of the season was to assume a culture of readiness across all three Islands and this is our first true test."
The Owen Roberts International Airport will close at 6pm tomorrow evening, while the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport in Cayman Brac and the Edward Bodden Airfield in Little Cayman will close at 3pm.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) will be stood up tomorrow morning beginning at 10am. The Cayman Islands Regiment will also assemble at 10am and deploy at noon after receiving official orders.
The George Town landfill will close at noon on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, to allow the DEH to secure buildings and equipment. The 24-hour landfill drop-off will remain open to the public during this time. The operating hours on Cayman Brac are Wednesday, July 3, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Sister Islands. All landfills will remain closed on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Additionally, and with immediate effect, derelict vehicles, scrap metals, or used oil will not be accepted until further notice.
There will not be garbage collection on Thursday, July 4, 2024. The suspension of this service will affect the ordinary schedule causing a delay by at least one day. More information on the resumption of this service will be provided in due course.
Stay Connected with Official Channels
For accurate and timely information, residents are encouraged to stay connected with the following official channels:
NEOC Call Centre: 949-6555
Emergency Services: 911
Mental Health Hotline: 1-800-534-6463
Local Weather Updates: www.weather.gov.ky
Hazard Management Cayman Islands: www.caymanprepared.gov.ky
Local News Outlets: CIG TV and Radio Cayman
Social media: Follow @caymangov @caymanprepared on Instagram and Facebook for real-time updates.
Comments (0)
We appreciate your feedback. You can comment here with your pseudonym or real name. You can leave a comment with or without entering an email address. All comments will be reviewed before they are published.