Earthquakes & Tsunamis

(John Gray High School and Clifton Hunter High School) that accept dogs and cats. Crates and muzzles are required.

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. 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

❑ Plywood and screw nails for windows/ doors (if necessary) ❑ ‘C’ type fire extinguisher for electrical fires ❑ 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 ❑ First aid kit, sunscreen and hygiene supplies ❑ Medication - make sure your prescription is full and you have an adequate supply at all times during hurricane season ❑ Mosquito coils, citronella candles and/or spray ❑ Rope/strong twine, duct/packing tape ❑ Shut off wrench and pliers ❑ Plastic sheeting to cover furniture ❑ Clothing - rain gear, life vests, sturdy shoes, galoshes/boots and a whistle ❑ Tarpaulin for roof ❑ Surgical and yard gloves (for clean up) ❑ Paper towel, toilet paper and napkins ❑ Disposable plates, plastic glasses, plastic cutlery and several plastic bags ❑ Aluminium foil, plastic freezer bags ❑ Can opener/knife (e.g. Swiss army) ❑ Clorox wipes (for cleaning cutlery) ❑ Chlorine bleach (sterilising water) and

Dettol (disinfecting hands and feet) ❑ Hand sanitiser (such as Germ X) and baby wipes (for personal hygiene) ❑ Ice chest and ice ❑ Broom, mop, bucket and rubbish bags ❑ Pet food and litter box ❑ Baby supplies: nappies, wipes, food ❑ Books, magazines and games

Things to Do (2–3 days before the disaster)

❑ Design a family plan for which shelter and route is the best to suit your needs ❑ Fill cars with gasoline/charge if electric and move them to higher ground ❑ Withdraw cash from bank. ATMs won’t work without power ❑ Bring in everything from outside, i.e. bird feeder, hose, barbecue, chairs, potted plants ❑ Secure boat and remove all equipment, i.e. battery, CD player, life jackets, etc. ❑ Make arrangements for the safety of your pets ❑ Move furniture and belongings away from windows and doors and elevate off floor level

❑ Put silicone or foam around outside doors and also fill sandbags sufficient to protect against flood water damage on ground floors ❑ Pick up rugs from the floor, and remove drapes from windows and store in plastic bags ❑ Buy buckets and sheets of plastic to protect furniture and wood floors from ceiling leaks ❑ Pack irreplaceable and precious items into large plastic bags or Rubbermaid containers/ tubs and seal them with tape ❑ Do laundry; it may be a long time before you can do it again, then fill the machine with water ❑ Clean tubs/baths and fill them with water ❑ Turn freezer and fridge to the coldest setting. If power goes out, food and ice will last longer ❑ Freeze water

❑ Charge cell phones and have a cell phone charger that plugs into your car’s USB port or car lighter. ❑ Consider blocking toilets with old towels, so they do not back up ❑ Wedge sliding doors to prevent them lifting from tracks and reinforce garage door ❑ Keep swimming pool full, to around 12 inches from the top ❑ Turn off propane tanks ❑ Secure TV antennae

❑ Check supply of emergency food ❑ Close cistern openings and disconnect downspouts ❑ Have empty gallon bottles to fill with water for bathing and flushing purposes ❑ Make sure you have old towels, shirts, etc. to line doors and windows for water

❑ Have raincoats/ponchos handy as it might rain for several days after the hurricane ❑ Make sure you have the phone numbers of family and friends and that they have yours

Flags

HURRICANE ALERT Hurricane threat more than 36 hours away.

HURRICANE WATCH Hurricane threat 24 to 36 hours away.

HURRICANE WARNING Hurricane conditions expected within 24 hours.

ALL CLEAR The storm has passed, use caution.

Important Documents & Records

Store in a portable, watertight container, scan or back up to an external hard drive

❑ Passports, birth certificates, driver’s licences and pets’ documents

❑ Photographs of home contents and vehicles for insurance purposes

❑ Digital back up of photos and a video of your property and valuable items

❑ Inventory of household (itemised)

❑ Bank accounts and credit card information

❑ Insurance policies, wills, contracts and deeds of your home

Hurricane Scale

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane’s present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf and the shape of the coastline in the landfall region. These speeds are one minute averages and not maximum gusts!

Wind Speeds Storm Surge (mph) (km/hr) (kmph) (feet) (feet)

CATEGORY 1 74-95 119-153 4-5 CATEGORY 2 96-110 154-177 6-8 CATEGORY 3 111-129 178-208 9-12 CATEGORY 4 130-156 209-251 13-18 CATEGORY 5 >157 >252 >18

an app that residents can sign up for to receive emergency alerts for significantthreat events. The third phase includes a wider range of solutions, including the establishment of a cell broadcast system that will permit alert messages to be sent directly to mobile phones. The NENS will eventually include a broad range of alert mechanisms, however it is encouraged to plan ahead.

For advice and up-to-date information of threats and warnings, follow the HMCI Facebook page (Caymanhazard) or Twitter Account (@CINEOC).

Property Protection It is prudent to begin assessing your home before hurricane season starts by ensuring that trees are gently pruned, especially if they are close to power lines, water pipes and near the roof of your house. Never attempt to cut branches close to power lines yourself; call CUC (Tel: (345) 949 5200) and they will send a team to evaluate your property and trim any potential hazards.

Additionally, ask your gardener or strata maintenance to remove coconuts as they can become dangerous missiles in high winds, and can put both you and your home at risk. Install hurricane shutters on windows and glass doors to protect your home or business. Options vary considerably, including maximum security screens (Crimsafe), impact windows and doors, hurricane shutters (accordion, panel, roller, colonial, Bahama) or electric roller doors/windows. If you already have shutters installed, check that they can still open and are not damaged.

Cayman’s building code regulations ensure that modern buildings are strong enough to withstand a certain degree of quaking, so the main hazards are unsecured appliances, objects and structures that could fall and cause injury, downed power lines and damaged water and sewerage systems. As a preventative measure, HMCI recommends bolting down appliances and bookshelves and placing heavy objects on lower shelves. Insurance Examine the insurance on your home and/ or business to ensure that the full value of the building(s) and contents are protected. Document the contents and take photographs of furnishing and valuables in advance. Keep these on a digital memory stick or backup drive. If you sustain damage, these photographs will support your insurance claim. See the Settling In chapter for a list of providers.

Medical Assistance Every district has a shelter that is specifically designated as an Emergency Medical Centre (EMC). If you have an existing medical condition, this may be the best place to seek shelter because there are medical personnel on hand. During high winds or flooding, however, ambulances will not respond until it is safe, which could potentially be more than 24 hours later. Make sure that your health insurance is up-to-date, so that you are covered in the case of a medical emergency.

Children & the Elderly Young children and the elderly are vulnerable during a storm and, without support, can suffer great emotional distress. If you have an elderly friend or relative, consider offering your home as a safehaven. If they are in a nursing home, be sure to confirm their emergency plans. If accompanied by an elderly person, keep in mind that they may take daily medication.

Pets There are only two pet-friendly shelters on-Island. John Gray can accommodate 30 dogs or 60 cats and Clifton Hunter can accommodate 15 dogs or 25 cats. Space is allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Refer to our Pets chapter for details.

Food & Water Supplies You should purchase 5-7 days supply of non-perishable items before hurricane season starts. Visit www.caymanresident. com for a list of essential items. Leaving the Island Have a plan and funds in place in the event that you decide to leave the Island before a disaster. Pay close attention to flight availability – some airlines increase the number of flights during evacuation periods, but flights still fill up quickly. Island Air (Tel: (345) 949 5252) can provide evacuation services. If you require assistance with passports or travel documents, talk to your local Honorary Consul in advance.

Aftermath of a Disaster Stay safe in the aftermath of a storm by following these helpful tips: > Always assume that powerlines are live and never touch low hanging lines. > Only turn on your main breaker once you are sure that every secondary breaker is switched off. > Open windows and doors to ventilate your house and dry flooded or damp areas to mitigate damage from mould. > Boil any water before consuming. > Make sure you do not turn your water back on until advised that water services have been restored in your area. Once you turn on the water, inspect your home for damaged pipes. > Be especially careful of pests, such as scorpions, which disperse during storms. > Always check for gas leakages before striking a match. > Don’t use the telephone unless it is an emergency to save battery life and keep lines open. > Avoid walking in settled water as there may be bacteria in it.

Useful Websites

Cayman National Hurricane Committee www.caymanprepared.gov.ky

Cayman Islands Government www.gov.ky

US National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov

Caribbean Hurricane Network www.stormcarib.com