Bermuda.

As such Bermuda's Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO), based out of the Police station at Prospect, was established to ease the strain under disasterous circumstances.

"Our aim is to make preparations for disasters -- including hurricanes -- which affect Bermuda, and co-ordinate the efforts of the different organisations involved to get Bermuda back to normal as soon as possible,'' explained Chief Inspector Philip Every.

"The EMO is comprised of the Deputy Governor, the Commissioner of Police, personnel from various Government departments, utility companies, the Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross, the Bermuda Weather Service and St. John's Ambulance Brigade. Also assisting are the Salvation Army and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which provide rest shelters for any who might need them.'' Both tabletop and field exercises are conducted to prepare participating bodies for emergencies, he said, it is also important that individual households are prepared to deal with disasters such as hurricanes, as well.

Information is quite well publicised throughout the media, for those persons who are unsure of what precautions to take.

"Obviously, prior to 1987 when we had Emily, Bermuda had been spared for quite a number of years. Hurricane Emily came along quickly in the early hours of the morning and caught some people by surprise. (She) reminded us of the impact and damage that hurricanes can cause and we must request that people bear this in mind as they go about making annual preparations for the hurricane season.

"The big problem with hurricanes is storm surge,'' he added. "With the eye of the hurricane coming over Bermuda, the air pressure lessens so there's less weight on the water surface which permits the water to rise. If that combines with a high tide, it can most certainly bring problems for residences and other buildings in low lying areas.'' The EMO is now working with Government's Works & Engineering Department to update those areas which are at risk, he said. And in case of an emergency before that project is complete, the EMO "will be facilitating alternate accommodation for people who are living in low lying areas although they should have their own contingency plan for alternate accommodation, be it with friends or relatives.'' One thing that the EMO does recommend, said Sgt. John Skinner, also of the Service, is that in the incidence of a hurricane, families select what they believe to be the strongest room in the house -- usually one near the centre -- and use it as a shelter.

Chief Inspector Every said the EMO receives information on all hurricanes in the Bermuda area and the likelihood of a possible strike from the Bermuda Weather Service and also via the Internet.

Said Sgt. John Skinner, also of the EMO: "One thing about strike probability is that just because we've just been hit, doesn't mean that we can't be hit again. For instance, the Outerbacks, an area in North Carolina which is similar in size to Bermuda, was hit twice in three weeks by the same hurricane last year. And residents of Bermuda, unlike those in many other countries, cannot evacuate the area.'' Added Ch. Insp. Every: "It's partially because we can't evacuate, that we must develop contingency plans. Another one of the problems Bermuda has because of its location in the North Atlantic, is that we don't have any neighbours or outlying towns or cities which can advise us that there is a big one coming our way. One of the positive things for Bermuda however, is that the structure of the buildings gives us a greater resilience and safety when compared to some buildings in Florida and in the Caribbean.'' A BELCO crew makes post-storm life easier HURRICANES SUPPLEMENT HUR