NEOC Issues All Clear for Grace
The National Emergency Operations Centre has formally issued an all clear for Grand Cayman, with effect from 6pm this evening.
While the Cayman Islands is still experiencing bands of strong winds and torrential rain, Hurricane Grace, is now moving west-northwest towards the Yucatan Peninsula at a speed of 16 miles per hour.
In response to the severe weather which Grand Cayman began experiencing early this morning the National Emergency Operations Centre opened last night. The centre brings together Government agencies, private sector partners and community leaders, to coordinate the response to any disaster at a country level.
During the peak of the crisis this morning, the group also responded to hundreds of calls from persons seeking an emergency service during the crisis.
This afternoon, as soon as conditions allowed, government and private sector crews fanned out across Grand Cayman to gauge the extent of the problems caused by the storm’s passage.
The debris clearance cluster of the National Emergency Operations Centre, led by the Department of Environmental Health, began clearing downed tree limbs and power lines to make roads passable.
Meanwhile crews from the Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) have begun the work of power restoration, a process that will continue overnight. Other utilities crews followed suit.
Acting Deputy Governor Gloria McField-Nixon said she was very proud of how the NEOC, its partners and the community had responded to the storm, but noted that the work was not yet complete.
Ms McField Nixon explained that while 80 percent of damage assessment has been completed on Grand Cayman, work will continue on Thursday. In addition the work of utilities restoration and recovery will continue overnight in less than ideal conditions, and is expected to take some time. There is also still debris to be cleared on some roads and localised flooding.
“As a result I would like to ask the community to remain in their homes overnight. This will allow the utilities crews to finish their work as quickly and as safely as possible. The current poor weather conditions make the roads dangerous for any driver and remaining in your homes while these conditions continues is the best way to protect yourself and our community”, she remarked.
Visit www.gov.ky and www.gov.ky/news/noticeboard for all updates on Hurricane Grace.
Submitted by: Government Information Services (GIS, CIG)