The government of the Azores closes schools and public services on the islands of the Western and Central groups for 24 hours due to Cyclone Gabrielle.

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores has announced the closure of schools and all public services and agencies on the islands of the Western and Central groups between 6:00 p.m. today, September 25, and 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 26, due to the approach of tropical cyclone Gabrielle. The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere forecasts strong winds, heavy rain, and a high risk of flooding and material damage, with a red warning for the islands of both groups.

“The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), as the meteorological authority, reports that tropical cyclone Gabrielle is approaching the Azores and could reach hurricane category 1, bringing with it strong winds, heavy rain, a high risk of flooding, and potential material damage,” said the President of the Regional Government in an official statement explaining the preventive measures that will be taken to avoid major damage.

José Manuel Bolieiro decreed the closure of all schools in the Western and Central groups, but excluded urgent and essential services, including hospitals, health centers, civil protection, and complementary services, as well as others defined by the respective authorities.

The President called for self-protection and limited travel. “While it is not possible to avoid the hurricane, it is possible to reduce everyone’s exposure to risk,” he said, recommending that the population follow official instructions, remain in safe places during the passage of the phenomenon, protect doors and windows, remove loose objects, have emergency contacts at hand, and comply with any evacuation orders. He also warned of the dangers of rough seas, advising against staying in or traveling to coastal areas, forests, and trails, and asked that pedestrian and road traffic be restricted to what is strictly necessary. “Better to be overly cautious than negligent in your actions,” he stressed.

The technical update will be provided on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. by the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, in conjunction with the IPMA, with a new communication expected around 10:00 a.m. The command and control of the operation will be based in Terceira, with the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action monitoring the situation in person. Meanwhile, the President of the Government will monitor the situation from São Miguel and travel to Terceira if necessary.

As for resources on the ground, ten firefighters have been deployed, with five assigned to Flores and five to Corvo. Additionally, three members of the Regional Civil Protection Service have been sent to the island of Flores for operational and logistical coordination. According to the Government, the structures are on standby and the organization includes coordination with municipal civil protection authorities, regional public companies, Portos dos Açores, and SATA, with the possibility of mobilizing private machinery when necessary.

Asked about the evolution of the risk by island, the President pointed out that it is too early to detail the impacts. However, the IPMA has already issued a red warning for the islands of the Western Group for the main variables, namely sea disturbance, wind, and rainfall, as well as warnings in the Central Group for some of these variables. As for the Eastern Group, public services remain open, unless there are changes in the weather updates.

The Government has agreed to resort to the measures provided for in the Legal Regime of the Civil Protection System of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, including the declaration of a state of alert by the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, at the proposal of the President of the Regional Civil Protection Service, which may lead to restrictions on movement and the suspension of activities in coastal and riverside areas and on trails, among other measures.

The President emphasized the importance of cooperation with the IPMA, highlighting the usefulness of the new weather radars recently installed. Regarding institutional contacts at the national level, he stated that he had not yet contacted the Prime Minister or the President of the Republic, but would do so when additional information became available and closer to the event. As he said: “As soon as I feel we have more detailed and up-to-date information, I will be sure to contact the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic to report on what is happening and what we have already achieved. But we are responsible for our own actions and reactions and, of course, for planning, and we are doing so within the scope of our own powers.”

Finally, the President of the Regional Civil Protection Service, Rui Andrade, took the floor: “The work began last Monday, with daily meetings with the Municipal Plan, with the local authorities, and also in the Forum, which is the Regional Operations Coordination Center, where a number of entities are centralized, including the Armed Forces, the Security Forces, various government agencies, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere, and therefore, in a Forum where we are all integrated and working closely and cooperatively,“ he explained. He concluded: ”All these situations are debated, analyzed, and much of the strategy that is defined is also discussed and validated there. Therefore, this is the work that has been done in constant coordination with all entities since Monday, when we began planning our response to this extreme weather phenomenon.”

In Correio dos Açores-Natalino Viveiros, director.

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.