Good afternoon, members of the media, and to the people of Bermuda who are watching and listening.
I am joined here by the Director of the Bermuda Weather Service, Mr. Phil Rogers, who in a moment will provide you with the latest weather update regarding Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda. This morning, the Executive of the Emergency Measures Organisation met to assess the threats we face from both storms.

Bermuda remains under a Hurricane Watch.

Humberto will bring stronger winds later this evening, but the storm of greatest concern to us is Tropical Storm Imelda, which is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and pass directly over or very near Bermuda late Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

AT THIS TIME I WISH TO TURN IT OVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE BWS TO SHARE AN OVERVIEW OF BOTH STORMS.

Thank you Director. BERMUDA, I cannot overstate the seriousness of this threat.

As the Director indicated, Imelda is expected to bring sustained hurricane-force winds for 4 to 6 hours overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

This is not a passing squall.

This is a dangerous storm system that could bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and significant coastal impacts.

Bermuda, now is the time to act. Preparations for Humberto should well underway and ideally, already be complete.

All preparations for Imelda must be finished by 12 noon tomorrow, Wednesday. After that point, conditions will begin to deteriorate, and it will no longer be safe to be out and about the country.

We know from experience that storms can change track at the last minute and be even more destructive than predicted.

That is exactly why we cannot be complacent. Too often, some may look outside and think, “it doesn’t look too bad” and decide not to take precautions.

I want to say directly to every resident: do not take that risk. We must treat Imelda as a very serious storm.

Preparation saves lives, protects property, and shortens recovery. Now I would like to provide some important information regarding affected services.

The EMO today agreed the following key decisions, which will take effect over the next 48 hours:

• The Causeway: The Causeway will close at 6 pm on Wednesday until further notice.
• Watch Hill Park roadway area (John Smith’s Bay area): Will close from 5 pm Wednesday.
• Schools: All public schools will be closed tomorrow and Thursday, following which, an assessment will be done to determine when they will be re-opened. Private schools on the island are also closing in alignment with Government schools.
• Public Transport: Bus service will stop at 4 pm Wednesday. All ferry services are suspended from 8 pm this evening until further notice.
• The Airport: The LF Wade International Airport will close on Wednesday. An assessment will be made Thursday morning, and the airport will reopen once it is safe to do so. Passengers must check directly with their airlines for flight status.
• Government Services: All Government offices will close at 1 pm on Wednesday, with all staff asked to vacate buildings by that time.
• The Emergency Shelter at CedarBridge Academy will open as an emergency shelter at 4 pm on Wednesday for anyone who needs it.
• Garbage Collection: Wednesday’s schedule will continue as normal. Thursday’s collection moves to Friday, and Friday’s schedule moves to Saturday.

In addition, the Emergency Measures Operations Centre (EMOC) will be activated tomorrow afternoon. The EMOC is the central point for the coordination of recovery efforts following the passage of the storm and by tomorrow afternoon will be fully prepared and operational.

This reflects the seriousness of the situation and ensures that our response teams are fully prepared and well-coordinated.

Beyond these operational decisions, I want to speak directly to the public about what each household should be doing right now:

• Check on our seniors, vulnerable loved ones, and neighbours. Please do not assume they are ready – reach out, offer assistance, and make sure they are safe and prepared.
• Make sure you have at least three days of water, non-perishable food, flashlights, spare batteries, a first-aid kit, and necessary medications.
• Ensure you have a portable FM radio. The Emergency Broadcast Station on 100.1 FM will begin broadcasting from late afternoon on Wednesday with vital updates, even if power and internet services go down.
• Clear your yards of loose items, garden furniture, and debris that could become dangerous projectiles in hurricane-force winds.
• Trim back any overhanging branches. This not only protects your property but also helps speed recovery efforts once the storm passes.

Lastly, we know Bermuda is resilient. We have faced hurricanes before. But every storm is different, and every storm must be treated with the utmost seriousness. In this case, Imelda has the potential to damage and disrupt our island significantly.

By preparing properly, we can limit the damage, protect lives, and recover more quickly afterwards.
So I say again: take this storm seriously. Finish your preparations by noon tomorrow, and aim to be off the roads no later than 2pm.

The EMO will meet again tomorrow morning to get the latest weather information, and we shall immediately advise the public accordingly.

Bermuda, like so many times before, look after each another. Also, I remind you to listen only to official sources of information.

Thank you.