In honor of Hurricane Leslie’s eminent approach to the tiny island of Bermuda, residents spent the week leading up to the storm preparing for the event itself. To most Bermudians, preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm is automatic. Checking batteries, buying canned food, purchasing bottled water, and buying extra candles are just some of the items on any Bermudians Hurricane prep list.

Boarding up the house before Hurricane Leslie

If, during the course of your visit to Bermuda, a hurricane approaches, the hotel with whom you are staying will implement its Guest Hurricane Guarantee. This will allow you, if possible, to depart early or even cancel your reservation without any penalty fee. If, however evacuation is voluntary and you choose to stay, here is what you should know.

If you are staying at a hotel, the hotel itself will prepare the property by following their hurricane preparedness procedure plan. The hotel will do everything within its power to make the remainder of your stay comfortable while keeping your safety a high priority.  If you are however, staying at a cottage or guest suite on a private property, there are a few things you need to do to prepare. The owners of the rental property, in true Bermudian spirit, will be happy to help you with anything you should need. Most rental cottages come with a hurricane kit, which will be stocked with the essential items you may require. The owners of the property will secure all items in and around the actual property itself; this should include any scooters you may have rented while visiting. There are a few other items on a tourist checklist, which would not normally be included on a resident's. This list is comprised of confirming your registration with your country’s consulate general’s office, putting all important travel documents such as your passport and airline tickets in a waterproof container, and last but not least, preparing a book bag or duffle bag packed in case of a ‘grab and go’ evacuation situation.

Watching the undulating waves off South Shore reach new heights as the storm approaches.

When shopping for food items leading up to the hurricane, it is within your best interest to purchase the following items:

Bottled water (one gallon per day per person)
Ice
Beverages (powdered or canned, fruit juices, instant coffee, tea)
 Canned food
 Dried fruits
 Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, nuts)
 Cereals
 Raw vegetables
 Bread

In your emergency supply kit should be the following items:

Flashlights, extra bulbs & batteries
 Battery-operated FM radio & batteries
 First Aid Kit
 Candles & matches
 Ice Chest
 Clock (wind-up or battery-operated)
 Working fire extinguishers or bucket of sand
Manual can opener.
 Toilet paper

Once you are all stocked up, it’s only a matter of waiting. If by chance you lose power, which is common, having a board game or deck of cards on hand will ease the boredom. Again, most rental properties come with a game closet.

Grainy view (due to excessive salt water spray) of South Shore at sunset the night before the storm.

Remember to always use common sense and caution when approaching any unknown situation and keep in constant contact with the rental property owners. They will take great pains to assure your safety and well-being. Now it’s time to just sit back and enjoy the experience. Remember, this will be a great story to tell one day.

Always a beautiful sunset the night before the Hurricane hits.

Lindsey Lehman is the Bermuda Editor for Wandering Educators

All photos courtesy and copyright Lindsey Lehman