St George's - As winds continued to increase in Bermuda, former Mayor of St George's E. Michael Jones was maintaining traditional Bermudian hospitality on Sunday.

With every other store in the island's second town and former capital shut up, Mr. Jones had the doors of coffee shop Cyber Cafe Latte in Water Street wide open to visitors this afternoon.

Passers-by were welcomed in for coffee, and were given use of the internet and a pep talk by the unflappable Mr. Jones.

He made it clear that Florence is not expected to cause anything like the damage wreaked by Hurricane Fabian which hit St. George's hard on September 5 2003.

"With the direction the wind is coming from and the way the town is nestled into into the hillside we should be fairly good this side of the harbour," he said.

"The Corporation of St. George's staff have been working very hard yesterday and today shutting up the town's property. Now they've all gone to get their own homes in shape. I've had a chat with the mayor. She's at home with her feet up.

"We've heard Florence was coming our way for a couple of days and everyone did what they had to do to prepare yesterday. Now we are sitting around bored, waiting for it to come."

However, he did express concern that Florence is set to coincide tomorrow with a full moon and therefore a high tide - possibly adding to the expected storm surge.

"I'm sure we'll get a higher tide, but nothing like Fabian," he said.

As for the tourists - he's welcoming them in, even though his business is not officially open.

"Some of them are frightened at the thought of being in a hurricane - in particular American visitors who remember Katrina. Fortunately, Bermudian homes are built to withstand hurricanes and are safe. But Katrina will be vivid for them."

Mr. Jones said he expected that younger visitors will actually enjoy the hurricane, since most hotels in the area seem to be planning hurricane parties tonight.

And whatever happens overnight, there's no doubt that the doors of the Cafe will be open again just as soon as Florence has passed.

"We were open at 9am the morning after Fabian. We were giving away coffee," said Mr. Jones. "Cafe Latte will still be going strong."