Bermuda was preparing itself for the worst last night as the mighty Hurricane Fabian continued to threaten the Island with battering winds and damaging storms.

Everyone from stores to hotels, public transport to Government, was making contingency plans should Fabian hit the Island as feared during the next 36 hours.

The Island could begin feeling the effects of the category four hurricane, which carries winds of up to 155mph and torrential rain, as early as late tomorrow morning and residents are being urged to act early and follow the usual steps.

Fabian is expected to bring the Island to a standstill for a number of hours as people baton down the hatches to fend off the worst hurricane ever thought to have threatened our shores.

At the very least, weather experts predicted last night that Bermuda was in for a rough tropical storm.

Yesterday, residents swamped supermarkets and hardware stores in a bid to stock up on flashlights, batteries, candles and water supplies, should power be cut off.

Hotels were making contingency plans to safeguard their properties and guests, while trying to accommodate those new arrivals unlikely to make it on time tomorrow and those unable to fly out as planned.

Bermuda International Airport will decide today when and if all flights should be cancelled, as will the Public Transportation Board and Government with regard to the buses and ferries.

And all cruise ships are expected to sail out of the Island today - a day earlier than planned for many - in a bid to stay ahead of the hurricane weather system.

President of Masters hardware store Susan Wilson said staff were battling to keep up with demand yesterday as customers came out in their droves for supplies.

"It's a madhouse," she said.

"There were people lined up outside the store half an hour before we opened this morning waiting to stock up on supplies.

"We are simply trying to meet demand at the moment, but we have had to replenish our stocks a number of times already today.

"But what we are trying to do is make sure we have sufficient for Saturday morning, when we hope to open again, for the people who have lost electricity. We hope we have enough until Saturday."

Mrs. Wilson said Masters always kept a minimum reserve of stocks specifically for hurricanes, however, she said demand had been such yesterday that it had already been "dipped into".

And high on people's shopping lists was propane gas cylinders, batteries, flashlights and candles.

But she said even if the electricity went off at the store on Saturday, she suspected some staff would still turn out for work to assist customers with emergency supplies.

"With (Hurricane) Emily we got caught in it and were here, and so, despite having no electricity, we helped people find what they needed in the dark - we just used flashlights to see our way around the store," she added.

"We will do that again if we have to."

A Government spokeswoman said a decision would be taken today as to when and if the ferries would be cancelled, but she said they would run for as along as possible.

And assistant director at PTB Daniel Moore said they were following weather reports and expected to make a decision on their services this afternoon.

"We will assess the situation Thursday morning and then make a decision in the afternoon. If the weather predictions continue as they are, and Fabian is set to hit late on Friday night, then we could close down the buses as early as Friday lunchtime. We have to ensure that our staff are able to get home safely.

"But, of course, that could change, so we are closely monitoring the situation and then we will have a better idea on Thursday afternoon to make an informed decision."

Five cruise ships are due to leave the Island earlier than scheduled today - and many of them a day ahead of schedule - as they attempt to make their return voyages in calm seas.

And the Seven Seas Navigator, which was due to arrive tomorrow into Hamilton and stay until Sunday, will now not arrive until Sunday, staying for one night.

Cargo ships the Somers Isle and Bermuda Islander are coming in as planned this morning, but will leave later today, rather than stay overnight.

Cable ship the Eric Sharpe, based in Dockyard, had not made a decision as to what it was going to do yesterday, and oil tanker Lucy PG, which was due to come in at the weekend, will now come in on Sunday or early next week.

Elbow Beach Hotel's crisis management team held a meeting yesterday and began to put into action its hurricane precautions, which involved bringing in outdoor furniture, checking drains, replenishing batteries and keeping guests fully informed.

General manager Frank Stocek said a couple of guests due to arrive on Friday from the US had already postponed their trip, and he said many of the 30 people due to fly out on Friday may face problems.

"From what I see so far, it looks like it's going to come pretty close. We will be fully staffed in the engineering and security areas on Friday, but in other areas the staff will be down a little bit," said the manager.

"We are putting on rainy day programmes for the guests, such as a movie, popcorn and cooking demonstrations."

Neal Stephens, manager of The Reefs hotel, said the beaches were being cleared of furniture yesterday in preparation for the increased sea surges, and he said Coconuts restaurant would be closed after lunch today and may not be open again until later on Saturday.

Today, staff will be taking down the tents on the terrace and removing the furniture and the club house at the front of the hotel will be boarded up tonight to protect it from strong winds and sea surge that are expected to hit.

He said: "So far, we have had three cancellations from people that were coming in on Thursday or Friday. We have 21 guests due to arrive on Friday and many of them are repeaters, so hopefully they will come in on Saturday.

"At the moment we are almost full - at 95 percent. If it hits during the day, then we will ask guests to come up to the main building, but if it's going to happen in the middle of the night, people can go back to their rooms.

"We are just going to wait and see what happens."