Public Safety Minister Paula Cox yesterday warned against complacency after a slow start to hurricane season.

Ms Cox, who is also chair of the Emergency Measures Organisation, called for "vigilance'' in monitoring storms around the northwest Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

And she also warned against daredevils taking to the ocean to take advantage of high surf.

"As far as I am concerned, Ms Cox said, "we should be vigilant at all times.

Keep yourselves informed on hurricane activity in other areas, track them when they come near Bermuda and, above all, prepare.'' She continued: "Last year, when we were visited by Hurricane Gert, I was very impressed with the way the public heeded warnings, took precautions and rode out the storm. But it is easy -- when there are no storms -- to be lulled into a false sense of security.'' She encouraged residents to use modern technology to track hurricanes, including the Internet, Cablevision's the Weather Channel, (cable 38), the Bermuda Weather Service's cable channel 11, and radio broadcasts.

Additional sources of important information are leaflets produced by local insurance companies and the blue pages in the telephone directory.

Ms Cox called swimming and surfing during tropical storm and hurricane warnings "dangerous behaviour'' and that swimmers not only put themselves at risk but also would be rescuers.

"We are fortunate to have an experienced watchdog organisation like the EMO,'' she added. "I hope the public will comply with any advisories they issue so that we can have a trouble free hurricane season this year.'' Paula Cox