Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) has concluded a week of disaster preparedness training in the Cayman Islands, with about 65 participants from government, statutory authorities and government companies to test the national emergency system’s response to a major hurricane and recovery measures. The exercise aimed to improve coordination across agencies and prepare leaders for post-disaster decisions.

Participants were challenged to manage telecommunications failures, isolated communities, water service interruptions and displaced residents while coordinating recovery efforts across government.

Week-long training tested response and recovery

The programme was facilitated by UK-based GSB Command Training Limited and focused on practical decision-making under pressure. It brought together teams from across the Cayman Islands Government and government-company sector entities referred to as SAGCs, to review plans, sharpen their roles and deepen their understanding of how the national emergency management system shifted from response to recovery.

The week began with a strategic briefing for the National Hazard Management Executive. It ended on Friday with the national hurricane exercise, which placed leaders in a realistic scenario meant to test not only operational response, but also the longer and more complex work of recovery. That included working through competing demands for government support, maintaining essential services and helping affected communities.

The scenario forced participants to deal with the aftermath of a severe storm across several fronts at once. Telecommunications were disrupted, some communities were cut off, water services were interrupted and residents were displaced. Agencies had to decide how to keep support moving while also planning for the longer task of restoring normal life across the Islands.

Recovery planning was placed at the centre

HMCI said the exercise was intentionally built around recovery, not just emergency response. While response often drew attention in the hours and days after a disaster, recovery could last for days, months or even years, depending on the scale of the event. That phase included restoring infrastructure, supporting residents and businesses, and coordinating the work of several agencies at once.

The drill gave senior leaders a chance to practise how information would be passed upward and how decisions would be taken during a fast-moving emergency. The exercise also included a surprise media engagement scenario. Designated spokespersons were required to answer live interview questions under pressure, a test meant to reinforce the need for timely, accurate and transparent public communication during emergencies. HMCI said clear communication remained a key part of public safety and recovery.

Tribute to Deputy Governor Franz Manderson

This year’s national hurricane exercise carried a special tribute to the retiring Deputy Governor, Franz Manderson, Cert. Hon. The exercise was named Hurricane Franz in recognition of his decades of service and his longstanding commitment to national resilience and emergency management.

HMCI framed the naming as both a practical drill and a tribute to a senior public servant who had been closely linked to the national preparedness effort. The message ran through the week’s programme, which combined training, coordination and reflection on the work needed to keep the Cayman Islands ready for severe weather events.

Regional partners joined the exercise

The programme welcomed regional and international partners, including Andy Hill of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Humanitarian Unit, Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, and Mandela Christian, CDEMA’s Programme Manager for Preparedness and Response, alongside the Cayman Islands Government and Hazard Management Cayman Islands. Their presence allowed for discussion on recovery governance, regional coordination and lessons learned from recent disasters across the Caribbean and beyond.

HMCI said those discussions added value because the Cayman Islands did not manage disaster recovery in isolation. The exercise showed the importance of working with partners who could offer experience, support and wider regional context when a major event affected the Islands.

Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency praised the country’s operational readiness.

"The Cayman Islands’ continued investment in exercising and strengthening recovery arrangements reflects a proactive approach to disaster management. By engaging leadership across government alongside regional and international partners, the country is ensuring recovery considerations are embedded long before an event occurs."

Preparedness Month closed with a call to stay ready

The training marked the end of Preparedness Month 2026, which ran from May 1 to June 14 under the theme "Preparedness is Power: Be Ready Every Day." During that campaign, government entities reviewed plans, carried out training, strengthened operational arrangements and encouraged residents to take steps ahead of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

HMCI said that while Preparedness Month had ended, readiness remained a shared responsibility. The agency urged residents, businesses and organisations to keep reviewing their plans, restocking emergency supplies and staying prepared throughout hurricane season. For Cayman, the exercise was meant to do more than test procedures; it was intended to show how government would work together when a severe storm disrupted daily life, services and communications across the Islands.

HMCI thanked all participating agencies, facilitators and partners for their collaboration in building a safer, stronger and more resilient Cayman Islands. The conclusion of the week’s national hurricane exercise left the Government with tested recovery arrangements and a clearer picture of how it would coordinate its response if a major hurricane were to strike.