EMO texts delivered hours after update

Travel disruption and power cuts hit Bermuda yesterday in the run-up by Tropical Storm Gabrielle.

And a new hi-tech text service warning of stormy weather got mixed reviews by users — some of whom did not receive the Bermuda Weather Service Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) warning until afternoon.

The service, used for the first time yesterday, is provided free by CellOne and Digicel — with the former coming out the winner for being fastest to get the message out.

Some Digicel users reported that they did not get the message until after noon, while the bulk of CellOne customers who commented appeared to get their warnings around 9.30am.

Texts

CellOne CEO Frank Amaral said: “We sent it out just before 9:30am. The community needs to understand that the Weather Service put the advisory on at 6am, then there is a time lag between that going out and the EMO telling the carriers and another lag between us getting it and sending it out. We are broadcasting this to a large amount of people, so there will be a time lag.

“The bulk of our customers appear to have got it soon after we sent it out.”

Digicel CEO Wayne Caines did not return calls from the Bermuda Sun yesterday.

British Airways flights to and from London were cancelled yesterday, while West Jet’s inbound and outbound Toronto flight was also pulled.

Yesterday afternoon’s United services to and from Newark were also axed as winds started to pick up and the weather worsened.

And the American Airways late flights in from Miami and New York were also pulled from the schedule – which means the outgoing flights this morning are likely to be cancelled.

Meanwhile, around 730 BELCO customers in the St George’s area lost power around 2.30pm.

Homes and businesses in the Cut Road and Fort William were affected after a tree hit power lines.

Restored

A spokeswoman for BELCO said most customers had power restored in just over an hour, while all had their lights back on by 4.15pm.

She added: “Investigation and work continues to restore power to the remaining customers.”

Government pulled the ferry service to St George’s as the waters around Bermuda got rougher.

The Norwegian Dawn, due to leave the island yesterday afternoon, was forced to spend another night in Dockyard due to safety concerns.

And the incoming Norwegian Breakaway, which was due to berth at Dockyard around 7:30am today, is now set to arrive around noon.

Government also cancelled a health and fitness demonstration, due to be held tonight between 5-8pm in Victoria Park, Hamilton. It will now be held on Wednesday, September 25.

And a Department of Tourism audition for artistes who want to perform on Royal Caribbean cruise ships while in port in Bermuda, scheduled for Chewstick, Elliott Street, Hamilton, for last night was postponed to tonight, between 6-8pm.

The closest point of approach for Gabrielle has already occurred with the Bermuda Weather Service predicting it would be within 25 nautical miles north west of the island.

The storm was expected to brush past within 25 nautical miles of Bermuda and bring winds of up to 73 mph (117 kmh) heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, which are predicted to begin to die down by this afternoon. n