Government Responds to Hurricane Delta
Government leaders, at a press conference today, Monday, 5 October, 2020 briefed the Cayman Islands about preparations underway, as well as the possible impact of now Hurricane Delta, the 25th named storm of a highly active 2020 Hurricane Season. The Cayman Islands is currently under a Tropical Storm Warning.
CI Government offices closed at 4 p.m. today (Monday, 5 October 2020), to reopen on Wednesday morning (7 October 2020). That decision was taken by the National Hazard Management Council this morning. Council members also heard that the newly formed Tropical Storm Delta had shifted direction and slowed overnight, pushing back the timing of the arrival of tropical storm conditions to the Cayman Islands area.
The leaders at the press conference urged people to get their information only from the official sources on www.gov.ky, www.caymanprepared.ky and www.weather.gov.ky as well as to tune into Radio Cayman.
Government leaders addressing the press conference were His Excellency the Governor, Mr Martyn Roper, Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Minister Hon. Tara Rivers, Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson as well as Director General of Weather Services, Mr John Tibbetts and Director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, Ms Danielle Coleman.
All fifteen (15) shelters in Grand Cayman are ready for activation if required and shelter teams have been placed on standby. The Red Cross shelter is open at 7 pm. Similarly, the Ashton Ruddy civic centre in Cayman Brac and Public Works Department building in Little Cayman are both on standby to be used as public shelters if needed.
The 247 people in COVID-19 quarantine in government facilities and the 79 in-home isolation are being monitored closely by the authorities, including shopping for some who needed supplies from supermarkets.
For all details of the Government response to the storm, visit www.gov.ky and stay tuned to local media, including www.radiocayman.gov.ky. For the latest weather information, persons should visit www.weather.gov.ky. Information on severe weather preparedness is available from www.caymanprepared.gov.ky.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) call taking centre will be activated from 9pm this evening. Individuals with non-urgent enquiries about the storm can call 949-6555. Emergency calls should still be directed to 911 for fire, police or EMS dispatch.
The NEOC and Hazard Management Cayman Islands are monitoring the conditions overnight. People should stay tuned to the official websites and local media for overnight developments.
