Bermuda recovers from Ernesto

Bermuda is cleaning up after Hurricane Ernesto passed directly over the island on Saturday. 

No serious damage or injuries were reported, although most residents lost power and downed trees were reported across the island. 

By midnight on Sunday, 6,849 customers were without power, down from around 25,000 or 70% of the company’s customers just after the hurricane passed on Saturday.

A total of 125 Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) soldiers were mobilised on Saturday to help with the clean-up after the storm. 

They helped to clear the airport runway so it could re-open and also dispatched a boat to help to inspect the Causeway so it could be declared safe to re-open. 

“It’s not such a severe storm that we’re going to be out for days, helping in neighbourhoods — the scale of assistance is not going to be as prolonged — but we do appreciate the community support,” Lt Col Duncan Simons, C/O of the RBR, told The Royal Gazette newspaper.  

Banks, Government offices, other businesses and re/insurance companies were all expected to have their doors open on Monday. 

Bermuda was fortunate that Ernesto, originally forecast to be a Category 2 hurricane when it passed the island, had weakened to a Category 1 storm when it passed directly overhead. It has slowed down significantly as it passed and battered the island for many hours on Saturday. It was also notable for the length of time the eye was over the 21-square-mile island.  

“Bermuda has once again demonstrated its resilience in the face of Hurricane Ernesto,” David Burt, the Premier of Bermuda, said on Sunday.   

“We have made significant progress in restoring services, through support from Public Works, the Bermuda Regiment and BELCO. It is estimated that we will return to business as usual tomorrow.”

Michael Weeks, the National Security Minister, said: “Bermuda, we successfully weathered this storm through our preparation, resilience and unified efforts. By working hand in hand, arm in arm, we minimised the damage to our island, our community, and each other. I could not be more proud of what we have accomplished! Thank you.”

Ernesto is now making its way through the North Atlantic and is making a turn to the northeast with long term forecasts predicting it will bring high winds to Belfast in Northern Ireland after brushing past Newfoundland.

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