NATIONAL WEEK OF READINESS ENDS: STAY PREPARED

Coming a week after the record-breaking hurricane-free first half of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the just-ended National Week of Readiness was a powerful reminder not to let our guard down.

The awareness campaign led by Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) was part of what it described as its “part of its ongoing commitment to promoting hurricane preparedness across the Islands.” The annual campaign encourages residents to take practical steps to prepare for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, as the latter half of the Atlantic hurricane season presents the greatest risk of storm activity.

As we have now entered that critical phase, the enduring words of John Tibbetts, the just-retired former Director General of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, sound a sombre reminder: “It only takes one.”

The National Week of Readiness serves as a reminder for residents to take proactive steps to protect themselves, their families, and their properties.

HMCI Director Dani Coleman encouraged residents to use the week as an opportunity to put preparedness plans into action. “We have come through the early part of this hurricane season, and now is the time to make sure our households, our families and our communities are truly ready for what lies ahead. Preparedness is a responsibility we all share, not just for ourselves, but for our neighbours and for the most vulnerable among us.”

To support preparedness efforts, local supermarkets Foster’s, Cost.U.Less, and Hurley’s showcased “Blue Tag Specials” throughout the week with special displays highlighting essential hurricane preparedness supplies, including non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries.

STAY PREPARED

Residents are encouraged to focus on several key preparedness measures:

Review or create a household emergency plan, including evacuation routes and family communication procedures.

Assemble an emergency kit containing at least three days’ worth of food and water, along with first-aid supplies, flashlights, and other essential items.

Familiarise yourself with local hazards, hurricane warning colours, and alert levels.

Download the National Emergency Notification (NEN) app and monitor official Government channels, Radio Cayman, and the Cayman Islands National Weather Service for updates.

Check on family members, neighbours, and vulnerable individuals within the community.

Businesses are also encouraged to review continuity plans, secure facilities, back up important records, and ensure employees understand their roles and responsibilities in the event of a storm.

The Cayman Islands Government remains committed to protecting residents and reminds the public that preparedness is key to reducing the risk of harm during a hurricane.

EYE ON THE SEASON

As the season peaks, activity in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean Sea has also started to show some activity, although the El Niño effect in the Pacific means that storm activity for the remainder of the season has a lower probability than normal.

Cayman and Jamaica were drenched this past weekend due to a passing weather system, and out in the northern Atlantic, storm Fay posed no threat to the local area.

Meanwhile, regional and international forecasters, economists, and governments continue to keep a close eye on El Niño effects in the Pacific and on how resulting severe storms could affect global trade, particularly in the agricultural industry.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), there is a near 100% probability that El Niño will persist until at least February 2027, with its impacts likely to continue beyond that date. Forecasts also suggest that the event could reach very strong intensity (“super El Niño”) before peaking at the end of 2026.

“El Niño could further disrupt food production, worsen food insecurity, and push inflation higher,” the WMO said in a publication.