Bermuda buttons down for Hurricane Gonzalo

Bermuda is set to be hit by a strong storm on October 17, Hurricane Gonzalo, one of the most powerful on record to hit the island.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Schools on the island were closed on October 16, and many residents boarded up the windows of their homes. Many of those vacationing left on the last flights as the Category 4 storm advanced.

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Gonzalo is set to have wind speeds of 145 miles per hour. The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecasts that the storm will weaken just a little bit overnight, but they still say that "Gonzalo is expected to be a dangerous hurricane when it moves near Bermuda" during October 17.

The Bermuda Weather Service said that they expect strong winds to hit the island for over 24 hours and "seas will be rapidly building up to 35 feet on Friday."

Bermuda's 60,000 residents are still cleaning up from the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fay, which damaged power lines and roofs the previous weekend.

By October 14, many residents were preparing for this new storm, lining up at grocery and hardware stores to replenish food, water, and emergency supplies.

"Well-rehearsed plans for most contingencies are enacted, and as we hope for the best, we are prepared for the worst," said Michael H. Dunkley, the island's premier, at a news conference on October 16.

Dunkley reported that a British Royal Navy ship is expected to arrive as soon as the storm passes in order to provide emergency assistance in the autonomous British overseas territory.

By that evening, the storefronts of the islands capital, Hamilton, were boarded up. Someone had written "stay safe" on a piece of plywood that was nailed across a clothing shops window.

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