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Go to the Bermuda news section for snippets of new from BermudaBermuda Survives
Bermuda will reopen for business today after Hurricane Florence swept past causing mass power outages but little damage.
Roads, Government offices and transport will all return to normal although schools are not due to reopen until tomorrow as safety checks must be made. The Rockaway ferry will resume this morning while the rest of the ferry schedule is due to return to normal by noon.
The Causeway reopened last night while the airport is due to reopen today. Last night Acting Premier Ewart Brown said: "We have been spared the complete wrath of this storm. "Bermuda has been tested and came through with flying colours."
However power remains a problem. Belco spokeswoman Linda Smith-Wilson said at 1 p.m. there were approximately 25,000 customers without power after category one Hurricane Florence brushed past. At 9 p.m. last night 8,000 customers were still powerless with Belco expecting that figure to be reduced to 6,000 by this morning. Mrs. Smith-Wilson said assessments and restoration had been hampered by continued high winds and rain. "However initial assessments do not indicate the extent of damage we experienced with Fabian (on September 5, 2003). Therefore we estimate total restoration to take days, not weeks." Most of the damage was caused by trees, winds, lightning and flying debris, said Mrs. Smith-Wilson. "However, there does not appear to be extensive destruction and we expect that we will be able to begin servicing customers branch lines beginning tomorrow. We will have a better idea by mid-day tomorrow as to timing of total restoration."
No major beach erosion was reported after Hurricane Florence and only four homes suffered structural damage according to Police reports while the Surf Side Beach Club in Warwick had to evacuate 24 guests when it lost roofs. Fire crews dealt with 60 call outs in 24 hours including minor flooding incidents in low lying homes across the Island.
Meteorologist Kimberley Zuill said St. David's recorded the highest sustained winds of 71 knots gusting to 97 knots as Florence blew past. "That's a very strong Category One hurricane gusting into a Category Two hurricane." The storm was closest at 10 a.m. when it was 52 miles west. Ms Zuill said Bermuda was still in its peak danger period for hurricanes which lasts until October although the season officially ends in November.
The Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo lost two flamingos through falling branches. One died instantly while another had to be destroyed after suffering a leg break. Spokesman Roger Sherratt said the animals had stayed in their compound as moving them causes them stress.
British Airways will be putting on an extra flight leaving Bermuda at 9 a.m. tomorrow and reaching Gatwick at 8 p.m. for passengers stranded due to cancelled flights on Sunday and yesterday. Interested passengers not booked on other flights should call 1 800 AIRWAYS or show up at the airport. People wanting slate or tarp for damaged homes can call the Emergency Assistance Organisation on 292 6325 or 292 6339.
Normal trash pick up will resume today.