American travel writers attending a conference certainly got their story as Hurricane Erin trapped many on them on the island.

Around 86 of the 450 delegates had planned to stay on the island after the the Society of American Travel Writers conference wrapped up on Saturday night but at least 200 were forced to stay as outward flights were cancelled.

Travel writer Hugh Disappear, 74, from Virginia, who had been planning to fly to New York on Sunday, said: "It gives me the chance to get some more work done and learn a little bit more about Bermuda."

Tourism Public Relations Manager Charles Webbe, who was on the host committee for the event, said the enforced stay hadn't ruffled many feathers.

He said: "They recognise there is nothing we can do about it and if you have to be stranded then it is the best place to be stranded.

"I met one lady from Quebec who wasn't at all unhappy to still be here. Everybody I talked to was making the most of it."

He said a planned scuba diving trip had been cancelled but receptions by locals in their own homes would go ahead.

He said: "They are interested to see how people live here."

The Government's Emergency Measures Organisation, which masterminded the Island's response to Hurricane Erin, laid on a special presentation at the Southampton Princess on Sunday afternoon to keep the writers informed about the situation.

National Disaster coordinator Supt. Sinclair White told them that all the hotels had a contingency plan for hurricanes.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said: "Although many people had other commitments, they came to the briefing with the American Travel Writers and made themselves available to speak.

"There were certainly some people among them who were very concerned and thought that a tidal wave was going to hit the island.

"It's been reassuring for them to know how seriously we take a situation such as thing and to let them know what sort of organisation goes into our dealing with it.

"If we're faced with a catastrophe we can handle it."

Freelance writer Beth Reiber, from Kansas, said the scare had unified delegates.

She said: "The hurricane has both added to and taken away from the conference. It has been quite exciting but I have two children and I wanted to get home to see them."

And Laura Byrne, from Ottawa, said: "The hurricane has made it interesting. It's something that can't be planned.

"People have been very good about giving us information and everyone seems very calm about it."