surge.

Just nine people showed up at Cathedral Hall last night to hear of the dangers they face in a killer storm.

And only seven people turned out on Tuesday night when the Emergency Measures Organisation held its first talk on the threat and the areas most at risk.

One woman at Tuesday's meeting blamed the poor attendance on a lack of publicity for the three talks.

She said the EMO should have advertised them in The Royal Gazette this week, instead of only in the Official Gazette last week and on the radio.

The seven West End residents were told that hurricane surge and wave action posed the greatest threat to life in Bermuda.

The South Shore would face the full brunt of both flood and wave damage. But those living around the Sounds and harbours would also be affected because the areas are confined and water could be trapped.

After developing models to show the potential scale of damage for various category hurricanes, the EMO determined a number of low-lying areas should be evacuated in the event of a major hurricane.

It sent letters to occupants of the homes at risk advising them of what to do.

The three public meetings, in Southampton, Pembroke and Hamilton Parish, were organised mainly for their benefit, though anyone could attend.

Attending Tuesday night's meeting at Port Royal School were EMO members Mr.

Lowdru Robinson, Sgt. John Dale and Deputy Governor Mr. John Kelly and Works and Engineering official Mr. Neil Allen.

Mr. Allen urged residents at risk for storm surge to make a plan now for the event they have to evacuate.

Dock damage, marina and low-lying road flooding could occur in the event a hurricane packing winds of 74 miles an hour hits.

A hurricane with winds greater than 155 mph could cause storm surge of more than 18 feet and catastrophic damage.

Mr. Allen said a number of factors made hurricane storm surge better or worse, such as wind direction and speed, the storm's diameter and forward speed.

Sgt. Dale said he was disappointed at the low turn out, noting 52 percent of residents at risk had said in an EMO questionnaire they would like to attend a storm surge talk.

He added, "As far as we are concerned though, if this meeting saves one life in the even of a storm surge it was worth it.'' The third meeting is set for tonight at Francis Patton School at 7 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend.