Businesses across the Island sent staff home early and boarded up the premises in preparation for arrival of Hurricane Fabian yesterday.

Banks saw members of the public taking out more cash and queues for gas stretched down roads as the Island readied for the impending storm.

Most businesses allowed mothers to leave early to collect their children and families went home to ensure their houses were secure.

Banks, businesses and stores will be closed today as it is deemed too dangerous to allow staff to travel to work.

Most businesses also plan to stay closed Saturday as well, as the worst of the storm is not expected to pass the Island until the early hours of the morning.

Businesses were yesterday busy putting in place safeguard measures that systems would work no matter what kind of storm hit the Island.

Bermuda International Business Association's Deborah Middleton said: "Businesses are taking this hurricane very seriously. Many will be closed on Friday to enable families to stay together and prepare. BIBA has sent a notice to its members as regards safeguarding software, backing up systems and unplugging electronic equipment.

"In short, we are doing everything we can, as far as is possible, to minimise any potential physical damage in order to reduce the risk of any resulting loss of business.

"After that, we are in the hands of Mother Nature."

BTC and insurance companies issued guidelines to help their customers deal with the worst, while they themselves battened down the hatches and readied staff to deal with what was expected to be the worst storm in living memory.

Bank of Bermuda said that due to the pending arrival of Hurricane Fabian, was planning to not open for business today.

"This decision will be reviewed throughout the day and night, pending the course of the storm and guidance from Government's Emergency Measures Organisation.

Customers are encouraged to carry out their banking requirements today. Our ATMs are being supplied with extra cash in anticipation of increased demand and they, plus our on-line banking service, EasyLink Online will remain operational unless affected by power outages."

Danny Fox, Head of Retail Client Services has confirmed that there has been an increase in activity in the Bank branches and the ATM's.

Bank of Butterfield said it was going to close on Friday and Saturday, but yesterday closed all branches at 3.30pm.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "We expect to re-open on Monday, September 8 to provide full service to our customers, unless otherwise announced.

Bank of Butterfield's business continuity plan places top priority on the safety of our employees and customers, while enabling us to provide service with as little interruption as possible. As conditions permit, customers may make use of our ATMs island-wide and Butterfield Direct Telephone and Internet Banking."

Other businesses also closed their offices in preparation for the storm, and sent staff home.

Andrea Wilson, chief executive officer of First Atlantic Commerce, said: "The offices of First Atlantic Commerce will be closed in preparation for Hurricane Fabian. The office is expected to re-open on Monday Sept 8th."

HWP Group President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Brewin announced that the HWP Group would close all operations today, except its two service stations.

The Group's Shell service stations at St. John's Road and East Broadway will open as normal tomorrow but close early at 2 p.m. to allow staff members to get safely home.

Mr. Brewin said: "The HWP Group has decided to close its Automotive, Cycle and Appliance Divisions and their related services for the whole day tomorrow because of the expectations that Hurricane Fabian will directly hit the Island."

"We originally planned to do the same with our Shell service stations but it was recognised that an important part of being prepared for a hurricane is to make sure your vehicles have a full tank of gas and that you have spare containers of gas put aside. We therefore decided to keep the stations open on Friday in order that we could serve our regular customers who will expect us to be there as normal. We will close the stations at 2 p.m., well in advance of when the high winds from Fabian are expected to be felt on the Island, in order to allow service station staff to get home to their families and properties safely."

Mr. Brewin added: "Obviously the safety of our staff and their families is of the utmost importance here at HWP and we would never knowingly put any employees at risk and that is why we are closing operations completely or early."

"This situation will be reviewed constantly to ensure that we are not putting our service station staff in any danger. Should the hurricane speed up or grow stronger, we will close the service stations earlier. Therefore we would advise all our customers to see stop by and stock up on fuels as soon as possible."

"We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause our regular customers and urge everyone to stay safe."

Technology company CCS Group Ltd said it would also be closed today.

CCS chief executive officer Rob Loxton said: "We have been carefully monitoring the approach and feel that it would be most prudent to close operations as of 6 p.m. (yesterday) in anticipation of what is expected to be a direct hit.

"Our staff are our most important resource and their safety and well-being and that of their families is paramount."