Officials at the Disaster Risk Management Authority (DRM Authority), Sunday, urged residents in the southeast Bahamas to prepare for the possibility of Tropical Storm conditions beginning late Sunday night and into Monday morning.
The advisory came during a press briefing in response to the Bahamas Department of Meteorology issuing a Tropical Storm Warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and a Tropical Storm Watch for the southeast Bahamas. This includes Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Samana Cay, and Long Cay.
DRM officials said while Hurricane Erin is expected to pass to the east of the southeast Bahamas, its size, and strength mean that the outer bands could bring tropical-storm force winds, rainfall, and rough seas, including dangerous swells.
Mariners were “strongly advised” to remain in port.
“This is not about creating alarm, it is about ensuring our people remain informed, prepared and protected,” Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Disaster Risk Management, the Hon. Leon Lundy, said.
“Our goal is clear: to stay ahead of this storm and to ensure readiness across our islands. The Disaster Risk Management Authority is closely monitoring Erin’s track and we are in full coordination with Family Island Administrators and our Emergency Support Function (ESF) Groups. Each has been asked to review and activate their preparedness plans as needed.”
Minister Lundy said for residents in the southeast Bahamas, this means being prepared for the possibility of Tropical Storm conditions beginning late Sunday night and into Monday morning.
“This includes gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and possible localized flooding. Mariners are strongly advised to remain in port as seas are expected to become extremely dangerous over the coming days.”
Mr. Lundy said there was no “immediate cause for alarm” for residents in the central and northwest Bahamas. The State Minister said, however, that it is vital that residents in those areas remain attentive to updates from the Met Department and be ready to make preparations if the need arises.
“As we often say: ‘We do not panic, but we do prepare. That is why we are issuing these precautionary measures now, so that no one is caught off guard. With the peak of the Hurricane Season upon us, our vigilance must remain high. Let us continue to monitor official advisories, support one another, and ensure that every Bahamian family is positioned to safely weather (any potential) systems,” Minister Lundy added.
Alert No. 9 issued by the Bahamas Department of Meteorology had Hurricane Erin moving toward the west-northwest near 13 miles per hour. This general motion was expected to continue followed by a gradual turn to the northwest and north on Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the centre of Erin was expected to pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and northeast of the southeast Bahamas tonight and Monday.
A dangerous major hurricane (Category 3 or higher with winds of 111 miles per hour and higher), Erin has maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour with higher gusts. Hurricane Force winds extend outward up to 50 miles from its centre, while Tropical Force winds extend up to 205 miles from the centre.
Dangerous swells generated by Erin had begun affecting the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southwest Bahamas as of Sunday evening and were forecast to spread into the central and northwest Bahamas on Monday and Tuesday.
Mariners are admonished to remain in ports until the ending of the week as seas could become extremely rough and dangerous during the swells.
