Hurricane Gonzalo Lashes Bermuda; Thousands without Power, Trees and Power Lines Flattened

Hurricane Gonzalo tore through Bermuda Friday night, downing trees and causing flooding and thousands of power outages. It made landfall at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time along the south-central coast of the island.

Yet Bermuda appeared to be getting back on its feet Saturday, as Bermuda's Premier Michael Dunkley tweeted, "All hands were on deck and worked very well. Much to be done, but we are roaring back!" Dunkley said that the U.S., Britain and other nations offered to aid with the cleanup efforts, according to the Associated Press. 

According to the island's utility provider, Belco, 13,022 of the island's 36,000 metered homes were without power as of Saturday night, Bernews reported. "Where possible, Belco is restoring power in a few areas," a utility spokesperson said Saturday afternoon, according to Bermuda's paper, The Royal Gazette. "It is important to realize that damage is widespread, so restoration will not be quick or easy. We are also assessing damage and responding to reports of downed poles and other equipment, such as transformers." Local cell networks were also impacted.

A crew of 180 sailors aboard a 436-foot frigate of Britain's Royal Navy will help with post-storm recovery efforts and is anticipated to arrive in Bermuda on Sunday, the Associated Press reports. 

The Associated Press noted that Gonzalo ripped off several roofs, including those of the island's legislature, the House of Assembly and an exhibit at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. 

Early Saturday morning,The Gazette reported that "barely a road" on the island was passable because of downed trees and other debris. "Important things need to be done and we encourage everyone to stay off the road. The roads are so littered with debris and hardly any roads are two-way,"  Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva said at the time. "There’s no way we can have traffic trying to travel in two directions." 

(FORECAST: Gonzalo Tracking Through Bermuda)

Local officials also urged residents to take caution if they go outside because of the risk from downed power lines and flooding. Overnight Friday, the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service was called out to more than 20 incidents, including a fire in Warwick Parish, Bermuda. It's unclear whether Gonzalo caused the fire.

Before Gonzalo hit, Bermuda's Dunkley urged people to "stay inside and stay safe." Residents of Bermuda flooded stores, boarded up homes and businesses and undertook other necessary preparations heeding Dunkley's warnings.

The director of the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) warned that Bermudans would likely see similar impacts to those of Hurricane Fabian, which hit the island in 2003 and caused $300 million in damage. BWS told residents to expect heavy damage and storm surge as Gonzalo hit the coast. "The direction of the swells and the winds will be very reminiscent of Fabian," said BWS Director Kimberley Zuill.

According to The Weather Channel Vice President of Global Forecasting Services Peter Neilley, who was on Bermuda when Fay hit last weekend and remained on the island as Gonzalo approached, Bermudans were still cleaning up from Fay, even as Gonzalo approached.

According to Bernews, L.F. Wade International Airport is anticipated to reopen beginning late Sunday afternoon, despite some roof damage. Ferries are also reported to be resuming operations Sunday.

More than 1,000 homes were without power before Gonzalo; nearly all of Bermuda lost power in the wake of Fay, The Royal Gazette reported. Neilley said piles of debris left over from that storm were still strewn about the island, which could cause issues as Gonzalo's strongest winds arrive. "Debris from Fay, mostly trees, limbs and coconuts, may be the primary issue with back-to-back storms as this debris could become airborne," said Neilley.

Late Friday morning, the Causeway at the East End was closed — the only road connecting the main Bermuda Island with St. George's and St. David's islands — because of fears that the bridge would sustain major damage as it did during Fabian, according to The Gazette. Bernews reported that the Causeway was reopened on Saturday. 

The British Navy sent a warship to Bermuda to provide relief assistance after Gonzalo; it's expected to arrive as early as Saturday, The Gazette notes.

Bermuda's government offices and schools closed Friday as the storm began its closest approach. Shelters were open to take in residents and vacationers. All bus and ferry service were halted, and authorities evacuated two hotels along Bermuda's southern coast.

Additional flights were scheduled Thursday to get as many people as possible off the island who wanted to leave, The Gazette notes. Boats were being pulled in from dockyards, and businesses and homes were being boarded up in anticipation of Gonzalo's arrival.

Bermuda has been hit by 10 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher strength) since records began in 1899, according to Dr. Jeff Masters of Weather Underground. Only two of those storms were Category 4 strength when they tracked within 75 miles of Bermuda, with the most recent of those storms hitting in 1948, Masters added.