What the Signs Mean

Alert

A hurricane alert means to take precautions. A hurricane/tropical storm could strike within 72 hours.

• Check emergency supplies and items for securing your home. Stock up.
• Assess your home and make necessary repairs to roofs, etc.
• Remove overhanging limbs and fruit from trees.
• Decide whether you need to stay with friends or relatives or go to a shelter.
• Find out which shelter is closest to you and decide how you will get there if you need to.
• Check that your generator is in good working order, and ensure you have oil and extra gasoline
• Make arrangements for your pets in case you have to go to a shelter.
• Fill vehicles with gasoline and, if necessary, withdraw some cash from the bank.
• Stay tuned to radio and local television for the latest official notices from Hazard Management Cayman Islands.

Watch 

A hurricane watch means you need to batten down. A hurricane/tropical storm could strike within 48 hours.

Outside

• Put up shutters or board up windows, glass doors and skylights. Wedge sliding glass doors and windows to prevent them from lifting from their tracks.
• Bring in or securely tie down everything that could be blown away, such as outdoor furniture, potted plants, clothes racks, garden tools, garbage pans, etc.
• Remove antennas and satellite dishes to prevent damage or loss.
• Disconnect downspouts from cisterns and close all cistern openings.

Inside

• Sterilise bathtub, pans, jugs and bottles and fill with water.
• Turn refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and open as little as possible.
• Raise furniture, appliances and other valuables off the floor. Cover and secure with plastic sheets. If your house has more than one story, move furniture and valuables to upper floors.
• Pack important documents such as passports, birth certificates etc. in plastic pouches and have then ready in event you need to leave your house hurriedly.

Mobile Homes

Mobile homes and trailer offices are especially vulnerable to hurricane-force winds. Do not try to ride out a storm in one of these. When a storm threatens, anchor them with over-the-top, or frame, ties. Pack breakables in boxes and put them on the floor. Remove mirrors and tape them; wrap them and lamps in blankets and place them in the bathtub or shower. Cover all windows with hurricane shutters or pre-cut plywood. If a Warning is announced, shut off electricity,

Warning

A hurricane warning means you need to take refuge. A hurricane/tropical storm could strike within 36 hours.

A Warning remains in effect until the storm has passed or is no longer a threat.

What To Do When A Storm Threatens

Before The Storm Strikes

• If you did not do everything you needed to do in the alert and watch do them now!
• Close curtains and blinds to minimise the danger of flying glass if windows are broken.
• Put your food and other hurricane supplies in plastic bags and containers so they won’t get wet.
• Turn off outside gas cylinders and disconnect gas pipes.
• Bring pets indoors. If you have to leave home and cannot find accommodation for your pets, leave them indoors along with food and litter. Fill the bathtub and basin with water and brace the bathroom door open so they will have drinking water if water containers get knocked over. Make sure they are wearing identifying collars with metal/plastic tags.
• If you intend to stay with relatives or friends, or to take pets to a kennel, go now.
• Shelters will usually open during this phase. If you intend to go to a shelter, listen for announcements that the one nearest you is open. Before you leave, turn off the main power and fuel supply and take the items you have prepared.
• Park vehicles inside the garage or away from trees
• If you are remaining at home, go indoors, secure and brace external doors. You can brace an inward-swinging door by wedging a chair with the back against the door knob.
• Stay indoors, but be ready to evacuate to a shelter or other location if your home is damaged, or if you are instructed to do so by emergency personnel
• Use telephone for emergencies only.
• Stay tuned to local media for official notices and instructions from Hazard Management Cayman Islands.

Trying to Drive through Flooded Roads is Very Dangerous 

It is hard to believe how buoyant vehicles become in water, but as little as two feet of water will carry away most automobiles. Moreover, the depth of the water may not always be obvious. The road underneath may be washed out and you could stall or become stuck in rising water. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way.

During The Storm

• Stay on the downwind (leeward) side of the house, away from windows, sky lights and doors, even if they are shuttered. High winds or projectiles could tear off shutters.
• CUC will usually turn off the electricity just before the storm approaches to protect their equipment. However, if the electricity is still on and water begins to blow into the house and settle on the floors, turn off the main breaker switch to avoid electrical accidents. However, before you touch the breaker, make sure you are not standing in water.
• Close all inside doors. If the wind gets inside, closed doors will help stop it from entering other rooms. You can also brace inward-swinging doors by wedging a chair-back against the knob.
• Do not go outside while the eye of the storm (an area of calm weather at the centre of the storm) is passing, unless absolutely necessary. Depending on the size of the eye and the speed at which the hurricane is travelling, the calm weather can last for up to half an hour or more, but winds will return unexpectedly from the opposite direction, sometimes with greater force. Don’t be caught off-guard! The great majority of injuries during a hurricane are cuts and blows caused by flying glass, zinc, wood or other debris. Other injuries include puncture wounds resulting from exposed nails or metal, and bone fractures.
• If your roof or walls begin to fail, go to an inner room (preferably one without windows), or to a cupboard or passageway or empty bathtub or stall and shield yourself with a mattress

Securing Your Belongings

Securing Your Boat

When Securing Your Boat:

• Take all trailers and small vessels out of the water.
• Remove boat plugs or add weight to smaller boats by filling the boat up to half-way with water. Filling it all the way could cause damage.
• Flatten the trailer tyres.
• If radio equipment can be removed, take it out. Remove outboard motor and anything that could blow away.
• Store boats and trailers inside if possible.
• If boat must remain outdoors, lash both boat and trailer down with heavy rope or chains anchored to the ground and away from objects that could fall on them.
• Support the trailer axle and prevent the trailer from rolling by placing blocks against each wheel.
• If your boat must remain in the water, please read through the advice that is available on the Cayman Prepared website.
• Never venture out to sea if a small craft advisory, or storm warning alert is in force

When the outer shell of a house is damaged, it becomes prone to sudden collapse. For example, if a door facing the wind blows in, the full force of the storm will hit the interior. Needing somewhere to go, the wind will then rip out windows, doors, walls or the roof. Even a small breach such as a roof tile bursting through a window, can have the same effect. Therefore pay special attention to all exterior openings. Storms often get a finger into the house through the roof if it not secure. The wind begins to peel away the roofing material at the gable ends or eaves, exposing the edges of the roof sheathing. The sheathing then becomes damaged and the ceiling

Protecting Your Pets

Without proper planning pets are likely to get injured, lost, or worse. Even if you decide to stay home, authorities may issue an evacuation order requiring you to leave at short notice. There are currently two emergency shelters which accept pets (dogs and cats only) and space is limited. Details of what you have to bring are on the Caymanprepared website. Have a safe place to take them in case you have to leave home:

• Ask friends, relatives, or others whether they could shelter your animals. If you have more than one pet, they may be more comfortable if kept together, but be prepared to house them separately.
• Ask if your workplace will allow you to shelter there with your pets.
• Some hotels will accept you with your pet. Call around to find out their policies and any restrictions on number, size, and species. Ask if “no pet” policies could be waived in an emergency.
• Keep a list of pet-friendly places, including phone numbers, with other disaster information and supplies. If you have notice of an impending disaster, call ahead for reservations.
• If you decide to leave the island before the storm, the best thing to do is to evacuate your pets with you.Call the Agriculture Department well in advance to find out the requirements for taking your animal out of the country and for bringing it back in. Also, be sure to find out the requirements of the country to which you want to take the pet. Assemble a portable pet supplies kit: Like you, your pet will need essential supplies during and after the storm. Keep items in sturdy containers that can be carried easily (duffle bags, covered trash containers, etc.). Include:
• A first aid kit, including any medicines your pet is taking and their medical records.
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers for transportation.
• Current photos of your pets in case they get lost.
• Food, potable water, bowls, cat litter and pan, and can opener.
• Information on feeding times, medical conditions, behaviour problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets.
• Pet beds and toys, if easily transportable. What to do as the storm approaches:
• Call to confirm hotel reservations or shelter arrangements for you and your pets.
• Check that your pet disaster kit is ready to go at a moment’s notice.
• Bring pets into the house to avoid searching for them if you have to leave.
• Dogs and cats must wear securely fastened collars with up-to-date identification. Write down your contact details on a temporary tag or put adhesive tape on the back of your pet’s ID tag, adding information with an indelible pen. If you must leave your pet at home:
• Prepare an area that is easily cleaned, such as a bathroom or utility room. Do not leave the animal near a window. Leave several days supply of dry food and water in non-spillable containers.
• If you are off island when a storm approaches, ask a trusted neighbour or friend to take care of your pets. It is best to arrange this before you travel in case a storm comes while you are away. This person should be comfortable with your pets, know where your animals are likely to be, know where your pet disaster supplies kit is kept, and have a key to your home. Other considerations:
• Transporting pets: Animals react differently under stress. Outside your home and in the car, keep dogs securely leashed. Transport cats in carriers. Don’t leave animals unattended anywhere they can run off. The most trustworthy pets may panic, hide, try to escape, or even bite or scratch. When you return home, give your pets time to settle back into their routines. Call your veterinarian if any behaviour problems last for more than a few days.
• Transport birds in a secure travel cage or carrier. Provide a few slices of fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content. Have a photo for identification and leg bands. If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels and change them frequently. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier.
• Small mammals (hamsters, gerbils, etc.) should be transported in secure carriers suitable for maintaining the animals while sheltered. Take bedding materials, food bowls, and water bottles.
• Horses and other livestock have a better chance of survival when turned out in clean pastures with native vegetation, but not in flood prone areas. Contact the Department of Agriculture for more information on sheltering farm animals. Microchips to the rescue! All dog owners in the Cayman Islands are required to have their dogs microchipped. The chip is a tiny and harmless electronic device inserted by a veterinarian just under the dog’s skin. It contains information to identify the dog and its owner and gives you the best chance of being reunited swiftly with your pet if it gets lost during a storm.

Protecting Your Home

For homes already built:

• Check roof structure to see if it is reinforced with hurricane straps. Hurricane straps anchor the wood frame of the roof to the walls, helping to keep the roof on during high winds. If you have a gable-end roof, make sure it is properly braced at the ends. Attach 2x4 or 2x6 planks to the gable end, at right angles to the truss system. Screws, not nails, should be used to attach the braces since screws are harder to pull loose. Consider having an experienced builder or engineer check your roof and do the necessary repairs and installing of hurricane straps. It is worth the investment. If you live in rented accommodation, ask your landlord about this.
• Replace roof covering that is cracked, rusted, loose or brittle. If you are replacing roof covering, consider metal roofing or asphalt shingles instead of roof tiles. Standing seam roofs do well if they are crimped together, using the manufacturer’s recommended machines. Correctly attached asphalt shingles will also perform well (See box information on installing asphalt shingles). The roof will peel away if it is not properly installed. Roof tiles can cause a lot of damage when they go air-borne and need very careful installation.
• When replacing or repairing corrugated zinc roof, 1x4 battens should be spaced at 16 inches on center and fixed to each rafter with two 12-gauge 2 ¾ inch galvanized wood screws. Battens should be doubled near the ridge and eaves. Nail the sheets with 10 penny ring shank nails at six inches on centres or eight-gauge galvanized screws at six inches on centres. Nails or screws should have a rubber gasket to seal the roof.
• New corrugated zinc roof should be placed over solid plywood sheathing with a layer of 30# felt or other approved water barrier. Sheets should be fastened with 10 penny ring shank nails at six inches on centres or eight-gauge galvanized screws at six inches on centres. Nails or screws should have a rubber gasket to seal the roof.
• Check double entry doors. Secure the inactive door to the header and thresholds by adding reinforcing pins to the top and bottom of the door as well as by adding heavier hinges and more secure locks.
• Make sure door and window frames are securely fastened to their rough framing and check that the header is held in the wall with steel strapping and not just a couple of nails.
• Double garage doors are another weak point because they tend to wobble as high winds blow. These doors can pull out of their tracks or collapse from the wind pressure. Install bracing horizontally across the door. This can be done anytime as the bracing can remain on the doors year round. Use six to eight 2x4s or steel supports for this.
• Shutters are the most effective protection for all windows, French, and sliding doors. The best option is to install shutters bolted to the walls as strong winds tend to rip off plywood, roll-down, and louvered aluminium shutters. However, homemade plywood shutters, if installed properly, can offer a high level of protection. (See information on plywood and commercial shutters) Remember to cover any vents on the gable ends of your roof if you have a gable-end roof

Building a home? Now’s the time to make it hurricane-proof.

• Because of their shape, properly constructed hip roofs can withstand hurricane winds better than gable end roofs. This is because all surfaces of the hip roof are sloping, allowing wind to flow around them, whereas gable ends are vertical, which allows the force of the wind to constantly build up against them. If you are building a gable end roof it is crucial to make sure that it is properly braced. (See information on bracing gable-ends under “For homes already built”)
• Make sure your builder installs hurricane straps wherever roof beams join each other or join the walls.
• Ensure that exterior doors open outwards. It is harder for them to blow in.
• For windows, French or sliding doors, choose an impact-resistant glazing such as laminated glass or install hurricane-rated shutters.
• When installing a garage door, buy a specially reinforced one and have it installed by a professional.