Police Prepared for Dean

Published 19th August, 10:23pm

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) would like to advise the public that the police department is fully prepared for Hurricane Dean.

The RCIPS is constantly preparing for dealing with these situations. Officers are fully briefed on their roles and responsibilities and are equipped to deal with any emergency that a storm could bring.

"We are more prepared than ever," said Commissioner of Police, Mr Stuart Kernohan. "Our hurricane plans are constantly being reviewed and assessed and significant improvements have been made since Hurricane Ivan."

The RCIPS is responsible for enforcing the laws of the Cayman Islands and maintaining public safety during a storm or natural disaster. As such, The Commissioner has imposed a curfew, which will come into force at 10pm this evening (Sunday, August 19). "This curfew has been imposed to keep people as safe as possible," said Commissioner Kernohan.

The duties of the RCIPS are many and varied but include shelter security, protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring rapid high-visibility policing deployment post-hurricane. The Commissioner is warning that criminal activity will not be tolerated, particularly after a storm. "There will be a robust police presence before, during and after any storm activity. Officers will be out in force putting a stop to any misconduct or criminal activity immediately. This message should act as a strong warning to all."

To assist and support the RCIPS in its efforts, The Cayman Islands Community is urged to consider the following points during this period:

Be prepared for stringent enforcement. The RCIPS will not tolerate criminal activity and those found engaging in illegal acts will be dealt with using the full force of the law.

Know when to call 9-1-1.Emergency personnel cannot come out in the middle of a storm, so take proper precautions in advance of the storm. If you call 9-1-1 during the storm, your call will be noted for action when it is safe, so please follow up, notifying 9-1-1 of your situation when the storm abates.

Keep 9-1-1 updated. If you have called 9-1-1 for urgent assistance and then move to another location, call them back and let them know; otherwise, emergency personnel will spend valuable hours looking for you when they could be helping the next person in need instead.

Avoid coastal areas: Don't put yourself in unnecessary danger. The RCIPS is asking people to avoid coastal areas during any storm period. Activities such as wind surfing, wave watching and picture taking should cease.

The public are asked to remain calm and follow the instructions of staff engaged in hurricane duties.

For further information contact: Ariana Rahamut