Bermuda opened for business just one day after Hurricane Paulette passed over the island.
The Category 2 storm brought high winds and heavy rain but caused no serious injuries or major structural damage.
“The Bermudian spirit always comes together in the face of adversity, and our can-do attitude is one of our community’s most valuable strengths. The island knows very well how to prepare for, withstand, and rebound from hurricanes,” said Glenn Jones, interim CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, in a press release statement.
The LF Wade International Airport (BDA) reopened at noon on Tuesday Sept. 15 and the St George’s Causeway, the main road serving the airport, is handling traffic once again. Local ferry and bus services resumed on Sept. 16 with normal schedules. The majority of Bermuda’s currently operational hotel properties are open and ready to welcome guests, and any visitors whose travel plans were impacted by the storm should contact their hotel for rebooking and cancellation policies.
“Bermuda’s tourism industry has long proven resilient in the face of severe weather,” added Jones. “The cooperation of our public and private sectors, combined with the tenacity of Bermuda’s people, puts the island back on its feet with incredible speed. After the storm warnings were lifted yesterday, it took our public works officials just three hours to re-open the Causeway to the airport, and utilities crews had restored power to almost three-quarters of affected homes by this morning.”
Hurricane Paulette was the first storm to directly hit Bermuda since 2014, when Hurricanes Fay and Gonzalo made back-to-back landfalls. Over four centuries, the island has built a unique infrastructure to protect islanders and businesses from severe weather conditions. Homes, hotels and other businesses are constructed from Bermuda limestone or cement block, with slate roofs strong enough to withstand extreme winds.
Bermuda’s ranking was recently improved by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to Level 2, making it one of only six places in the world associated with “moderate” COVID-19 risk. Bermuda has also earned the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) “Safe Travels” stamp, which allows travelers to recognize governments and companies around the world that have adopted health and hygiene global standardized protocols.
For more information visit gotobermuda.com/bermudatourism.
