October 14, 2014

Dear Sir,

I was three years old when Hurricane Arlene hit Bermuda in 1963 (Cat 2). Since then I have witnessed Hurricane Emily (Cat 2) 1987 and Hurricane Fabian (Cat 3) 2003. These experiences taught me to keep an eye on the Weather Channel and so I was one of those Bermudians who expected updates throughout the night.

At 11.30pm Saturday evening, just before my husband went to bed, we checked the Weather Channel and Hurricane Fay remained predicted (updated at 6pm) with closest approach 49 miles off the Island still as a tropical storm closest hitting at 2am. I stayed up watching movies and at 1.30am on Sunday morning checked the channel again and it had changed (updated questionably at 11.30pm) to Hurricane Cat 1 watch, closest approach 4am remaining at 49 miles off Bermuda. This information led me to close every blind in our house (with the exception of one room).

The Premier was on TV last night and was agitated that people complained about not being kept informed continuously and asked the reporter who was complaining. He felt there wasn’t any point to release updates because everyone would be in bed. This was a bad judgement call.

For example, the one window that we did not close blinds had a branch bust through and drench our daughter’s furniture and mattress, and we struggled to close it in the middle of the hurricane. Can you imagine what would have happened if I had not seen the one and only update through the night and left all the blinds open thinking it would only be a storm.

Furthermore, the Premier called it a storm. Really?

Two days after Hurricane Fay (Cat 1) there are still loads of inter-road connections impassable, public schools and GPO remain closed, with traffic lights still requiring repair and Belco linesmen working flat out to repair electric lines, etc …. with Hurricane Gonzalo on its way.

Why wasn’t the whole Island shut down on Monday so that we could all contribute to the clean up in our respective areas?

This is what I expect of Government and the EMO team:

1. Updates on the weather (TV/internet/radio) every four hours through the night when a potential hurricane is on its way

2. Updates on the weather every two hours when a potential hurricane is within 150 miles from Bermuda

3. The closing down of the whole Island when a Category 1 has either directly hit the Island or passed within 50 miles

4. A Regiment (that is volunteer and paid) that is on hand until all is cleared after it hits the Island.

CHERYL POOLEY