It's been fifteen years since the last sizeable hurricane swept across the Island, and while Bermuda is somewhat better prepared for the ravages of nature today, a direct hit from a Category Three hurricane or above would be devastating, The Royal Gazette was told.

When Hurricane Emily hit the Island on this date in 1987, it was merely a Category Two storm, but it caused upwards of $50 million in damages, tore roofs from homes, hotels, hospitals and, even, Hamilton City Hall.

Emily blew through over a two-hour period with maximum gusts of 114 miles per hour.

Boats were strewn across the parishes, the Fire Service received hundreds of calls within hours, and thousands were left without telephones and electric power. But ultimately, Bermuda escaped the worst horrors of hurricane devastation - death, injuries and homelessness - common in other area of the world.

Given a Category Three hurricane or higher, however, the Island might not be so lucky.

In that situation, Bermuda would probably need international assistance to cope, said meteorologist and Bermuda Weather Service systems administrator Brian Kolts.

"That would be when we would begin to worry about repercussions," Mr. Kolts said.

Bermuda is somewhat protected from Category One and Two hurricanes by its relatively high sea shelf, he explained, which keeps storm surge manageable. But storm surge would become a problem should a Category Three storm, with its winds of 111 mph and up, hit Bermuda.

According to a study by Works and Engineering, up to 3,000 homes are in danger of flooding and flood damage in the event of a hurricane.

Over 1,000 of those properties are only at risk during the most severe hurricanes - categories Four and Five - but 1,239 homes could be in trouble in category One hurricanes and above.

Meanwhile, a key factor in the long but successful clean-up of Emily in 1987 - soldiers from Bermuda Regiment - has seen an overall depletion in manpower since that time. Regiment Commanding Officer Lt. Colonel Eddie Lamb told The Royal Gazette yesterday he estimates manpower in Regiment has fallen by almost 100 soldiers since that year. Despite the decline in bodies, Lt. Col. Lamb said he was confident Regiment commanders would respond to a natural disaster like Emily efficiently and to the best of their abilities.

And Lt. Col. Lamb suggested the direct opportunity for community service offered by coping with such a disaster, might remind Bermuda's young men about the crucially important role of the Regiment.

Lt. Col. Lamb said he was in charge of Charlie company when Emily hit in 1987. As the Regiment was fully embodied to cope with the aftermath of the storm, Charlie troops fanned out in Paget and Devonshire clearing roads and moving debris.

"I saw families warming up soup for the soldiers," Col. Lamb said. "The look of gratitude on people's faces was unbelievably rewarding."

The scene the soldiers confronted after the storm hit in the early hours of September 25, 1987 was one of "devastation", he added.

"It was a horrible site," Col. Lamb said. "There were trees everywhere and strewn vehicles.

"But I also remember it was beautiful day, the next day immediately after the storm."

During Emily - much like last year's Storm Karen and even 1963's Hurricane Arlene - Bermuda was caught off guard.

But the Island is better prepared today, representatives from the Emergency Measures Organisation - which includes Government, Fire Service, Police, BELCO, the weather service, BTC and other key services - said yesterday.

Communications in particular between the different groups have improved. Means of communication and storm tracking have become more sophisticated said EMO spokesman Dwayne Caines, and the need to keep the public informed is constantly stressed. "The system is routinely checked to ensure that it is fully functional and operational," he said.

While hundreds were without power for weeks following Emily, BELCO spokeswoman Linda Smith told The Royal Gazette the power company has been almost totally revamped since that time with millions of dollars poured into improving its system. "It's not perfect but it is a very different company to that when Emily came through," Ms Smith said.