Gov’t schools to close in face of stormy weather
(CNS): Government schools on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, including the University College of the Cayman Islands, will be closed on Monday as a potential storm develops south of Grand Cayman. Cayman Prep has confirmed it will close and other private schools are also expected to cancel classes tomorrow. Government officials said they are working closely with the CI National Weather Service and Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) as this weather system surrounding the islands progresses.
This broad area of disorganised showers is expected to develop into a more organised system tomorrow and Tuesday, and the National Hurricane Center is anticipating further development later in the week.
The system is expected to move north to northwest through the Yucatan Channel, leading to further deterioration of weather conditions. Scattered thunderstorms, strong winds, and potential flooding, particularly affecting low-lying and coastal regions, are expected over the next few days here in Cayman.
According to the Sunday evening forecast, weather patterns indicate that the most severe conditions will persist through Monday afternoon into Tuesday, with the potential for localised flooding in low-lying areas. Lightning, thunder and heightened gusts of wind are also expected. Primary areas of concern are the neighbourhoods of Washington Blvd., Randyke Gardens, Prospect, North Sound Estates, Cumber Ave, Kipling Street, Fiddler’s Way, and low-lying areas of Cayman Brac.
Residents are urged to stay informed, follow safety protocols, and heed any advisories or warnings issued by the Cayman Islands Government. Officials are coordinating with local authorities and volunteer groups to ensure prompt response and recovery. To assist vulnerable households in flood-prone areas sandbags are available for collection at six sand distribution points across the islands.
National Roads Authority crews have been mobilised and are conducting routine procedures clearing drains in low-lying areas. Emergency pumps have been installed in key areas where flooding is of great concern. The NRA continues to monitor the community’s needs and is on standby to assist.
Cayman Airways said it is monitoring the forecasts but as of Sunday evening, flight operations were unchanged. However, customers with tickets for travel next week should ensure reservations contain accurate contact details, including an email address and phone number, for the airline to be able to advise them directly of any updates if changes to the flight schedule become necessary.
Meanwhile, a conditional advisory was shared with civil servants by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson advising staff to prepare and remain vigilant. In the event of school closures, non-essential staff are advised to make necessary preparations to work from home.
RCIPS, CIFS and emergency services are on standby and will be conducting regular patrols to assist where needed. Cayman Islands Regiment, HMCI, Red Cross, NRA and Public Works are currently on-site at sand locations assisting the public with filling sandbags.
The Public Health Department has also warned people to be aware of potential health risks such as water contamination and will issue further guidance if necessary. Mosquito activity is expected to increase given the heavy rain so residents are asked to eliminate standing water on their property. The MRCU said it will enhance its mosquito control operations.
The public is encouraged to check for information about the impending storm on the government’s various online channels @caymangov @caymanprepared, www.gov.ky, www.caymanprepared.ky and www.weather.gov.ky. For emergencies call 911.
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Category: Science & Nature, Weather
Kids are learning that if rain comes then they can’t go to work just like school closed for no reasons!
I got a sunburn at the beach today. hahahaha pathetic!
No surprise Caymanians under educated
School closing for ONE day isn’t a big deal. Kids are more than capable of doing school work at home for ONE day.
THREE days.
Did you miss math class due to rain?
Hilarious to see all the dumb comments being posted here – the schools are shut because the weather service is forecasting potentially up to 8 inches of rain over a 48 hour period
Our schools tend to be built on relatively open land with little plant cover and basically no drainage, one or two inches over a short period is enough to inundate areas even with some drainage.
When I was in school and the Government DIDN’T issue alerts and close schools during inclement weather we would often have to be picked up in the middle of the day due to flooding and leaking and unsafe conditions.
If the government hadn’t done this and schools had flooded parents would have been on the roads in the middle of the day going to get students to take them home and you all would be on here whining about how irresponsible the government is for not closing the schools.
Some of you need to get a grip and give your heads a wobble – being cautious and relying on forecasts to make smart decisions even if they are overly cautious is not a bad thing, no one wants to be out driving on flooded roads or stuck in hours of traffic due to road closures and accidents. Of all the things to criticise the government on this is not one of them.
The thing we should be criticising is why there is no reliable drainage that is mandated by law when planning large projects like schools and why our roads are unable to handle a day or two of rain without being impassable.
Grow up.
Famously the mature thing to do in a country is to ignore warnings from meteorologists and just go with the flow – let her rip
ha…so you admitting cayman has 3rd world schools and infrastructure???
ha…so you admitting you would fight tooth and nail to stay in a country that has 3rd world schools and infrastructure instead of returning to the hellscape you left behind?
It’s absolutely drizzling it down in Camana Bay. Keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers.
Drizzling LOL
Hazard Management Dept folks needed to feel important …so they pushed for schools to be closed.
They didn’t last time and they were criticized very harshly. Can’t win with yall lol.
Pathetic
As typical, a day early and wasted time for our students to be in school – which they dearly need. But why should they care when CIG will simply give them money!
caymanians are so soft. maybe they should spend a winter in the UK to deal with the “terrible” weather.
But, but, but… it’s a horrible intermittent drizzle today. It ruined my morning routine as I waited, and waited, and waited for the uncharacteristic September rainstorm. Oh the pain of tropical life. YES – SEVERE SARCASM. CIG sucks!
& why the hell would we want to do that? 🤢
Ridiculous. The knock on effect of this is will be seen in the public and private sectors today. Countless people will say they can’t come into work because they don’t have childcare.
Maybe they should have held a referendum to make this decision. SMH
CIG TV: “A special Franzie will be presented to the Civil Servant who watched the most Premier League while working from home during the Great Forecasted Rain Apocalypse 2024.”
For rain? Over dramatic in my opinion.
Back in the day, we walked in the rain..parents bought raincoats from Comart! TS and Hurricane weather was different. Later in life I had a “northern” experience and had to walk to bus stops to get to school in rain, snow, even sleet.
“Brave” New World?
Just a blatant excuse for govt teachers and civil servants to have a paid day off.
it sweeeet it sweeeeet lol
Funny how school is close, and parents have to scramble to find what to do with their kids, as we still have to go into work…. Smart very smart
Modern Caymanians have to be the most overprotected, mollycoddled people on the planet.
Trinis, Bajans and Jamaicans. NOT Caymanians.
So are their parents to blame? I really want to see some answers – who is to blame (let’s review the typical culprits: Expats, Jamaicans, Fit drivers, Ministers, the electorate). So many to choose…
25 mile per hour winds with rain.
Literally any excuse.
The sky is falling!
Storm is Monday night, did they really need to close schools?
NO – but you elected these geniuses.
drama make the world go around….
shameful hysterics by all concerned.
btw the forecast remains the same till thursday…so will government and schools be closed till then???
Yup at least through Tuesday. Oh, Ah – rain, wind, better hunker down as the world is gonna end. Pathetic!
any excuse for a day off….this is not even a named system or storm…it will rainy and windy..end of.
shame on cig and the civil service…and as usual,,,, lazy teachers.
It’s not lazy teachers, they are told not to go into school
“Lazy Teachers” – how is this their fault when it’s the CIG government calling the shots?
Take this up with the honorable JooJoo O Connor Connelly as minister of education.
I have experience in both government and private schools. Today ( Monday at 8.30 am) I received a comprehensive program of work from CPHS that was relevant to their already published ‘scheme of work’. It was clearly well-prepared and was designed to meet the needs and abilities of my child.
I am still waiting for CHHS to come up with a plan, but I am not hopeful. That school does not even make a ‘scheme of work” available to parents ……possible because there is not one.
Good excuse for bars to be busy on a Sunday night, no work…construction equipmment safe?
They had to announce it because CIG had already leaked Emperor Franz voice note to his tribe.
“Monday afternoon we will know more, wink wink”
CIG staff must be absolutely fuming now because they do not get to beat us all to strip the shelves clear at Kirks and Fosters like they normally do when something is going on.
I remember the lockdown. Announced at 4pm, I was grabbing breakfast at 8am at Kirks and it was remarkable how everyone is CIG was doing a full weeks shopping.
You can tell, because they have their cult of mediocrity uniform on. Maybe the Cayman weathermen can explain why they are saying it didn’t rain on Sunday (today). Couldn’t make it up. It’s like CIG is one huge propaganda machine designed to gets its members as far as possible in life.
I wonder who is more powerful, Freemasons? Rotery Members or CIG employess as a tribe?
Christ almighty, if Ju Ju and Kenny hadn’t spent all the loan money they could have bought all those kids a pair of wellies each.
#shitshow
#standard
#worldclass
I live in the Kipling Street area. We didn’t have any problems with flooding until developers started to illegally clear plots of land without planning permission. Previously the heavy native plants on those plots would soak up a huge amount of water, but since they are all now cut down we’ve had flooding that covers the roads.
NRA came and installed drains, but for some reason they put them at the high points in the area not the low points and they don’t do much to help the issue. Keep the plants!
Cupcakes.
Back in our day we walked to school, through the snow with no shoes, uphill both ways. Strap if you didn’t show.
Embarrassing farce as usual. Nothing to see here.
SMH Say you aren’t a local without saying it.
Ministry of Education Bot alert. You’d be surprised Bobo.
PS. Beautiful morning for some learning…
Not a bad afternoon either, for some more learning…