(John Gray High School and Clifton Hunter High School) that accept dogs and cats. Crates and muzzles are required.
Waterspouts & Tornadoes Waterspouts are a rotating column of water formed by a whirlwind occurring over the sea. They sometimes form along the dark, flat base of cumulus clouds, and may sometimes be seen in the coastal waters around the Cayman Islands. They are typically not harmful as they travel slowly and the wind speeds associated with the waterspouts are usually less than 69 miles an hour. They are only active for about 20 minutes. Typically, these waterspouts dissipate quickly when they make landfall. Emergency Alert System When a major threat is declared, a release is issued to all media houses to advise the public and the notification is also posted on the HMCI website and social media accounts. A National Emergency Notification System (NENS) is in development and the first phase has now been established, which allows NENS to interrupt all FM radio channels. The second phase was expected to come online at the end of December 2021, including
Hurricane Supply Kit Things to purchase, set up, prepare and do in advance of the hurricane season
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Plywood and screw nails for windows/ doors (if necessary)
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Clothing - rain gear, life vests, sturdy shoes, galoshes/boots and a whistle
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‘C’ type fire extinguisher for electrical fires
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Tarpaulin for roof
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Aluminium foil, plastic freezer bags
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Hand sanitiser (such as Germ X) and baby wipes (for personal hygiene)
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Ice chest and ice
Oil and petrol for generator (optional) Portable gas cooker and refills Charcoal and lighter fluid Flashlight, candles, lantern and oil Matches/lighter in watertight bag Battery operated radio, fan and extra batteries
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First aid kit, sunscreen and hygiene supplies
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Medication - make sure your prescription is full and you have an adequate supply at all times during hurricane season
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Mosquito coils, citronella candles and/or spray
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Rope/strong twine, duct/packing tape Shut off wrench and pliers Plastic sheeting to cover furniture
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Surgical and yard gloves (for clean up) Paper towel, toilet paper and napkins Disposable plates, plastic glasses, plastic cutlery and several plastic bags
Can opener/knife (e.g. Swiss army) Clorox wipes (for cleaning cutlery) Chlorine bleach (sterilising water) and Dettol (disinfecting hands and feet)
Broom, mop, bucket and rubbish bags Pet food and litter box Baby supplies: nappies, wipes, food Books, magazines and games
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D I SA S T E R P R E PA R E D N E S S
Earthquakes & Tsunamis Grand Cayman lies close to the boundary zone of the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates, which are seismically active. The strongest recorded earthquake in the Cayman Islands occurred in January 2020 and measured 7.7 magnitude. Its epicentre was 67 miles from Cayman Brac and 154 miles from Grand Cayman. Although there were reports of multiple sinkholes and some reports of 1-2ft waves, no major structural damage occurred. Over 20 aftershocks were felt with the strongest tremor measuring 6.1. In the case of an earthquake, duck, cover and hold: get under a solid piece of furniture or reinforced doorway. Be sure to cover your head to protect yourself from falling objects. If you are in a strong, elevated building, away from the coast, stay inside, unless there are clear signs of structural damage. If outdoors, move to an open space away from objects that are likely to fall, such as glass, electrical cables, trees and light poles, and crouch down and cover your head until the shaking stops. If you are in a vehicle, pull over to the side of the road in an open area. After the shaking stops, proceed carefully, being aware of the potential for splits in the road and sinkholes Tsunamis are most often triggered by underwater earthquakes, with waves spreading outwards rapidly from the site. Out at sea (in deep water), these waves typically measure only a few inches in height and may travel at speeds of 400mph, but when the tsunami reaches shallow water, the wave slows and its height increases. Although tsunamis triggered by earthquakes can occur in Cayman, the probability is believed to be very low. Cayman’s underwater landscape, with steep drop offs close to shore and very little continental shelf, may well reduce the risk of dangerous tsunamis. However, there is a significant area of shallow water in the
North Sound that could allow for wave run up. After the earthquake in January 2020, a tsunami warning was briefly issued and residents were advised to stay away from the coast. However, within an hour, HMCI announced the tsunami ‘All Clear’. If a very long and strong earthquake is felt, there may be very little warning time if a tsunami threatens, so residents should not wait for an official warning and take action immediately. If you feel a very strong earthquake, you should head inland and get to an elevated area. For those living close to the sea, ensure you are familiar with the nearest multi-storey building or location of nearby higher ground. If you are at the coast and notice the water receding, move away immediately and, if possible, towards high ground. Waves may strike at intervals anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. Cayman has not experienced a destructive tsunami in its entire recorded history, so the likelihood of one occurring is very low, and strong destructive earthquake events are also incredibly infrequent.