Bermuda's hurricane heroes breathed a sigh of relief as Gert took a detour around the Island.

The team responsible for battening down the hatches said the Island was lucky to escape a full hurricane strike.

But they slammed sightseers and swimmers who ignored storm conditions and put themselves at risk.

Ministers added, however, that most of Bermuda -- including the Airport, buses, schools and Government offices -- would be back to normal today.

The Airport re-opened at midnight last night, but ferries may still be off, depending on conditions on the water as Gert disappears over the horizon.

And they praised the work of the emergency services and Government workers who braved the foul weather and high winds to keep the Island's roads clear and essential services working.

Emergency Measures Organisation chiefs, however, said valuable lessons had been learned from what Premier Jennifer Smith called "a dress rehearsal''.

And Ms Smith said although the final costs of the emergency had not been totalled, the expense was worth every cent.

She added: "I would venture to say any time we discuss cost in terms of this kind of thing, we have to discuss cost-effectiveness -- and anything which saves lives is worth it.'' Ms Smith -- who had been floored by 'flu and still looked ill yesterday -- added: "We've been very lucky. We're all breathing a sigh of relief.'' And top Police officers Jean-Jacques Lemay and Gertie Barker -- who joined his Task Force in chasing people out of the water yesterday -- and Works Minister Alex Scott all slammed swimmers who took to the seas and sightseers who clogged the roads.

Mr. Scott said: "The Task Force may well have saved several folks from themselves, especially at Horseshoe Bay.'' And he added: "If there's anything we've learned, we're going to try and patrol the beaches a bit more closely, if for no other reason than to protect people against themselves.'' He said emergency doctors had told him drownings and even crippling spinal injuries from being smashed against rocks were common in seas as rough as yesterday's.

He added: "This is one occasion where folks may have to live with the terrible consequences of these monstrous seas.

"We would certainly call on people to respect the Police line -- they're not being heavy-handed or mean. They're acting in people's best interests.'' Acting Assistant Commissioner Barker said even sightseers lining the cliffs overlooking the shores were at risk.

She explained: "These surges are very strong and there are a lot of parts of South Shore with currents under it -- people must stay away until the Police say it's safe to go back.'' Commissioner Lemay blasted a man who was in the water at Horseshoe Bay with young children.

But he said the vast majority of the Island had co-operated with EMO instructions and stayed inside and out of danger.

He added: "In many cases, our purpose was basically to ensure the population was safe. We're very grateful for all the support we received.'' The three -- all members of the EMO -- were speaking as the steering committee delivered a final briefing and announced the Island was set to get back to near-normal today.

Earlier, EMO chairman and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said she had been out on the road all day, examining damage and watching emergency services and work crews, both public and private sector, on the job.

"The people of Bermuda have been really well served by all those who came out in full force to do what needed to be done,'' she said. "There are certainly a lot of success stories -- in particular I'd like to single out the Salvation Army, the Seventh-Day Adventists and Child and Family Services who ran the emergency shelter at CedarBridge Academy.

Ms Smith added her praise for "the many people who did not get to stay nice and safe at home, but spent their time travelling the roadways''.

Ms Cox added she had visited Sonesta Beach Resort yesterday -- and had been impressed by the approach of both staff and guests.

She said: "Talking to tourists, they seemed to be grace under pressure -- and certainly Sonesta is to be commended.

"To a man and a woman, with very few exceptions, people seemed to be very accepting, acknowledging and saying how they would come back to get some better memories next time.'' And she took a swing at "voyeurs'' who crowded emergency sites -- including the South Shore house where a wing was smashed into the sea.

Ms Cox said: "There was instability there in terms of the foundation and the structure.''