Government is set to introduce a wind speed limit for the Causeway to avoid a repeat of the tragedy that claimed four lives during Hurricane Fabian.

But the widow of one of the victims has slammed the initiative as coming "a few years too late".

The new wind speed limit, which will be determined after consultation with the Bermuda Weather Service and the Ministry of Works and Engineering, is just one of the measures to come out of post-Fabian Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) debriefing.

In future hurricanes, the Causeway will be shut when winds pick up to a pre-determined level, which should ensure no repeat of the four deaths two months ago when two vehicles, including a Police car, were swept off the Causeway during the height of Fabian.

It is understood that the families of the four victims were particularly keen to see a limit put in place to ensure the vulnerable bridge would never be open again during such high winds.

But Monica Pacheco, whose husband Manuel was killed on the Causeway, is angry that it has taken these deaths to bring about the change in policy.

"I think it is a good idea, but it has come a few years too late," said Ms Pacheco, who also lost her home in the September 5 storm.

"They should have brought this rule in after Hurricane Emily and then none of the people would have been killed and the Police officers and my husband would still be with us today.

"Now is too late, much too late."

The other key initiative to come from the debriefing sees Government planning to put together a national hurricane store of batteries, generators and tarpaulin, with Works and Engineering staff currently looking at possible locations.

Public Safety Minister Randy Horton said that once an appropriate location was found, Government would begin stocking it up straightaway ahead of any future emergency. He said that the stockpile would be paid for by Government although any private donations "would be most welcome".

Other lessons to be learned from September 5's storm, Mr. Horton told a news conference, include purchasing a back-up generator for the Emergency Broadcast System, improving media facilities at EMO headquarters and introducing legislation to help with evacuations and road closures in the event of another emergency.

The EMO assessed all of the procedures that were in place and those that were spontaneously executed during one of the worst hurricanes that Bermuda has endured," said Mr. Horton, who had earlier read out a statement in the House of Assembly about the EMO debriefing.

"Of course the thoughts of EMO members focused upon the tragic loss of lives at the Causeway during the hurricane and strategies whereby this kind of tragedy might be avoided in the future. After careful consideration, the EMO recommended that a pre-determined maximum wind speed for safe passage across the Causeway would be another important aid in the planning stages.

"In this way, an immediate road closure could come into effect if the maximum wind speed was exceeded. The EMO also recommended the introduction of legislation that would ensure public safety by mandating evacuations, road closures and emergency actions by authorities."

As well as bringing about these new measures, Mr. Horton used the Press conference as a way of once again patting the nation on the back for its handling of the ravages of Fabian.

"Bermuda reacted heroically both during and immediately following Hurricane Fabian," he added.

"We came together superbly as a community, rallying to the assistance of each other. As the Minister with responsibility for public safety and as chairman of the EMO, I wish to express my personal gratitude to all EMO members - individuals and organisations - for a job extremely well done.

"The entire country owes them all a tremendous debt of gratitude."

•Opposition Home Affairs Spokesman Maxwell Burgess has urged an independent commission on deaths arising out of Hurricane Fabian. Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, he said a full inquiry was needed into the circumstances which led three Police personnel and a civilian to be swept to their deaths off the Causeway during the hurricane's height.

Mr. Maxwell said it was important to know if all that should have been done was actually done and that if mistakes were made they would not happen again.