The Sister Islands have been placed on a Tropical Storm Watch, and District Commissioner Mark Tibbetts is urging residents not to be complacent as Tropical Storm Ian is set to intensify later Sunday.
A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within the area.
In a statement to the Cayman Compass late Saturday night, Tibbetts thanked the Sister Islands Emergency Committee, and all the other support staff for their hard work in recent days getting the islands ready for the storm.
Now residents need to to ensure they are safe, he said.
“The state of readiness is very well pronounced within our community. It’s quite obvious that the residents, the community as a whole, have taken the threat of this storm very serious… Although the Sister Islands have now been downgraded to a tropical storm watch, I just want to encourage you to still remain vigilant,” he said.
Starting at 8am Sunday, the Aston Rutty Civic Centre, one of the hurricane shelters on Cayman Brac, and the Little Cayman hurricane shelter will be opened.
“We just want to make certain that each and everyone is aware of that,” he said, adding that those who may have animals or pets that may need sheltering, the Noah’s Ark Shelter, located at the Agriculture Show Grounds, will also be made available Sunday.
The National Weather Service, in its 4am update, said the Sister Islands will experience overcast skies along with widespread thunderstorms from Sunday as Tropical Storm Ian moves closer to Cayman.
“Extremely rough seas along with swells and storm surges are also expected due strong and gusty winds. Given the adjustments to forecast track the possibility for storm force winds are lower for the Sister Islands,” it said.
Winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour with higher gusts can be expected Sunday and Monday on the Sister Islands.
Tibbetts urged the community to continue to monitor local government and official media outlets to keep up with the most recent warnings and forecasts.
“Thank you all so much for your support over the past couple days, please do again remember to be safe and God bless,” he added.
For the latest information on storm activity in the Cayman Islands, as well as information on how to prepare for hurricane season, visit Storm Centre.
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