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Major flooding caused by the continuing impacts of Helene’s brush with Cayman has led to the closure of several roads in George Town.
The closures include Huldah Avenue, as well as Seafarers Way in the vicinity of Burger King on the waterfront.
The RCIPS, in a notice issued Wednesday afternoon, asked motorists to exercise caution as the floodwaters rise.
In addition, Halifax Road, Dorcy Drive, Bronze Road, Webb Road, Oak Mill Street and Hope Road have been closed.
Kerry Powery, chief meteorologist at the National Weather Service, in a weather update Wednesday afternoon, said Grand Cayman has already registered close to 10 inches of rainfall since Hurricane Helene starting impacting the island.
He said the “spiral bands” of the hurricane are expected deliver some more rainfall Thursday, “potentially up to another four inches” as it moves away.
“These bands came in around the time of high tide, so that’s what exacerbated the flooding that some of our residents experienced [Wednesday]. So high tides will continue to play a role for a couple of weeks,” he said.
Cayman, he said, has not been given the “all clear” even though the tropical storm warning was lifted yesterday.
Powery said, with more rain and flooding expected, these discussions will likely begin Thursday afternoon.
Wind and rains continue
The National Weather Service has maintained its flood warning and marine warning.
John Tibbetts, director general of the National Weather Service, speaking on Radio Cayman Wednesday morning, said that Grand Cayman is feeling the impact of “feeder bands” which extend about 150 miles to the southeast.
Chief Meteorologist Powery, in a 5pm update on the weather, said that the periods of “squally weather” that impacted the Cayman Islands Wednesday are likely to continue through the night and into Thursday morning.
“A decrease in frequency of these squalls and showers is expected overnight, and a gradual improvement in weather condition is expected thereafter,” he said.
The occasionally squally weather, he said, will lead to strong, gusty conditions across all three islands as winds are expected to be 20 to 25 knots with higher gusts Wednesday evening and night, decreasing to 15 to 20 knots with higher gusts by Thursday.
“Marine conditions is still a concern, with wave heights of approximately 6 to 8 feet expected for [Wednesday] night and [Thursday],” he added.
Flooding is expected to linger as tides remain elevated and additional rainfall is anticipated.
Grand Cayman can expect up to 0.75 inches of rain on Wednesday night and 0.2 to 0.6 inches on Thursday.
The Sister Islands can expect up to 0.5 inches of rain on Wednesday night and 0.5 inches or less on Thursday.
Heavy wave action is expected mainly along the south coast, Powery added.
Grand Cayman overall rainfall is expected to be up to 2.8 inches Wednesday tapering to 0.2 inches by Friday.
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman overall rainfall is expected to be up to 1.4 inches Wednesday, reducing to 0.1 inches by Friday.
Winds of 23-29 miles per hour are expected throughout the day decreasing to 12-17 mph by Friday.
Misinformation warning
Government has also issued a warning, after an AI-generated video of flooding in West Bay circulated on social media, showing vehicles almost completely submerged.
Government cautioned that “incorrect information is being circulated, which can cause unnecessary panic and confusion. Be aware of images and videos that are AI generated”.
It encouraged the community to rely on information from official channels.
Meanwhile the Water Authority is advising the public to avoid contact with standing water if their onsite wastewater treatment system is flooded.
“Due to the flooding issues caused by Tropical Storm Helene, the effluent disposal well may not be able to drain effluent from the system into the groundwater. This creates a risk that the system backs up and sewage overflows onto the ground or back up into your home,” it said in its advisory Wednesday afternoon.
The Authority has urged the community to exercise caution around flooded wastewater systems as this poses a public health hazard due to sewage contamination.
Closures and reduced hours
Cayman’s public and private schools remained closed on Wednesday as rain and wind associated with Helene, which has now been upgraded to a hurricane, lingers over the islands.
The Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services, in a brief statement around 6.30am Wednesday, said the decision to keep schools closed was “based on current adverse weather conditions and consultations with Hazard Management Cayman Islands”.
The Red Cross shelter on Huldah Avenue has been reopened for evacuees.
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, in an audio message Wednesday afternoon, said government offices on all three Islands will reopen at 8:30am Thursday for normal operations.
“Individuals who continue to deal with the aftereffects of the storm should contact their managers, who will exercise their usual discretion,” he added in his message.
Courts in Cayman will be open today, however, the Judicial Administration warned that there may be delays “due to skeleton crew”.
Hazard Management Cayman Islands Director Danielle Coleman, in an audio message Wednesday morning, stated that with strong gusty conditions expected the public is urged “to take precautions while moving around and avoid unnecessary risks”.
Airports reopened at 7am as planned, a government update stated.
“The Cayman Islands Airports Authority will closely monitor weather conditions before every aircraft operation to ensure it is safe. Each airline will follow their own aircraft-specific weather protocols,” the update added.
While government offices will remain open some agencies have started issuing change in hours for Wednesday.
The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority has reopened its offices with some employees continuing to work remotely.
However, it says due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions, its offices will close at 2pm Wednesday to allow staff sufficient time to return home safely.
All offices will resume normal business hours on Thursday, it said through a notice.
The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has announced that all landfills will remain closed Wednesday due to the current weather conditions.
Residents are advised that the 24-hour drop-off site at the entrance of the George Town landfill remains open to facilitate the disposal of small amounts of waste from residential customers, if necessary.
“Landfill operations are expected to resume on Thursday, subject to further forecasts,” it added.
The Department of Vehicle and Driver’s Licensing (DVDL) has said, via a notice Wednesday morning, that its offices are open, but operations are currently limited.
Vehicle inspections and road exams are not available at this time.
It is encouraging customers to use DVDL’s online services.
Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman has said due to current weather conditions its Apollo House West offices will open at 10am Wednesday.
The Cayman Brac office has resumed normal working hours at 8:30am.
Butterfield Bank has also announced that due to ongoing adverse weather it will be operating with reduced hours at all three of its banking centre locations on Wednesday.
The centres are set to close at 1pm.
CAL cancels Tampa flights
The Tampa International Airport has announced that it will be suspending operations on Thursday ahead of Hurricane Helene’s arrival prompting the cancellation of Cayman Airways’ Tampa flights KX202 and KX203.
Those flights were scheduled for Thursday.
The national flag carrier has said that all affected customers are being accommodated on alternate flights on Friday.
Affected passengers are being contacted directly by the airline with details.
At this time, it said all other flights scheduled for Thursday are expected to operate as scheduled, weather permitting.
Cayman Airways Express flights have been cancelled for Wednesday.
Additional jet service has been added for travel between Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac Wednesday after to accommodate affected passengers.
The airline has also extended the change fee waiver for customers who wish to voluntarily change their plans to travel between Florida and the Cayman Islands.
The storm is forecast to impact Florida later this week.
CAL says customers will not have to pay a change fee, or fare difference, if their tickets have been purchased on/before 23 Sept and have booked for flights departing between 24-27 Sept.
It says new travel dates must commence by 7 Oct. or within the validity of the ticket, whichever is earlier, and travel must be rebooked in the original cabin.
Same origin and destination will apply, except for Miami and Tampa.
Passengers travelling to/from Tampa may change for travel to/from Miami, and vice versa, it added.
Customers who wish to travel at a later date will have the change fee waived but must pay any applicable fare difference, it added.
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