Cayman Compass

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage.

Hurricane season is officially here, and it's expected to be a busy year for storms in the Atlantic. Two named storms, Arthur and Bertha, formed ahead of the official season, with the third named storm, Cristobal, hitting the Gulf Coast in early June.

It has already been quite a year for the Cayman Islands in terms of natural disasters. It began with a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Cayman Islands in January, followed by a raging fire at the George Town landfill in early March and then the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic

Cayman’s National Hurricane Plan is what is termed a ‘hazard specific’ plan and it sits under the main National Hazard Management Plan.

Hurricane tracking map, including PDF download link.

When a 7.7 earthquake shook Cayman and its neighbours in January 2020, an emergency alert intercepted the signals of 16 local radio stations.

A disaster supply kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.

During an emergency it is vital to keep up to date with official, verified information.

In a typical year, deployment of Cayman’s National Emergency Operations Centre is uncommon. While its staff and services are tasked with responding to an array of public crises, these threats normally remain theoretical.

Useful phone numbers for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac.

The Cayman Islands has honorary consuls who can act on behalf of their citizens on-island.

In the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks and threats, it is critical to assess the maturity of your organisation’s security capabilities to ensure that the most effective control-measures are implemented.

There is no way of knowing what damage a hurricane or natural disaster could have on your home, contents, vehicle or boat.

Waiting until a crisis hits is too late. Monitoring, preparation, and rehearsal are the most effective ways to prepare for a catastrophic event.

From an accident that disrupts your supply chain to a firestorm in social media, companies manage minor crises all the time. It is a part of business as usual.

During a storm, natural disaster or - as is the case currently - a public health crisis, the police are charged with enforcement of the laws of the Cayman Islands and maintaining public safety.

When we experience an emergency such as the COVID-19 crisis, a hurricane or an earthquake like the one that struck Cayman in January 2020, we can have a variety of emotional reactions.

Pets are part of the family. The best thing you can do for them is to plan in advance, so you are ready in the event of an emergency.

It is inevitable that a disaster of some sort will strike Cayman, whether on a national level in the form of a hurricane or through more localised incidents such as fires and community flooding.

Few could forget the plumes of smoke spewing from the large landfill fire in early March, which the Cayman Islands Fire Service teams fought in extremely dangerous conditions.

Royal Navy officers from the RFA Argus ran through a hurricane exercise in mid-June to assist with disaster preparedness in Cayman.

Residents should ensure that their official documents are up to date at all times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for public sheltering. Protocols such as social-distancing requirements will limit the number of people who can gather inside shelters, reducing overall capacity.

Hurricane tracking can sometimes be unpredictable, so it’s important to prepare for the worst whenever there’s a hurricane anywhere in the western Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico.

It is possible that a tsumani could pose a threat to the Cayman Islands, but the government and emergency services often hold exercises to prepare for such a disaster.

Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning, and they can occur at any time of the year, day or night.

Here’s how to be ready, food-wise, for whatever emergency may come your way – whether that means power outages, localised flooding or a public health emergency that keeps you stuck inside. 

Emergency shelters will be operating with physical distancing protocols.

One of the most important things to prepare for when a hurricane is approaching, or another natural disaster strikes, is the ability to keep everything you use clean.

Having a well-stocked first aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies.