Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva is urging people to stay indoors before, during and after the height of the storm.

He advised residents to remain in their homes as there would be no rescue teams available during Gonzalo’s peak.

“The emergency plan is before and after, there is no during — the potential for loss of life on the rescue side is too great,” Mr DeSilva told the Emergency Broadcast Station just before noon.

“Wait for hurricane winds to pass — we can’t get to you and you can’t get to us.

“These are extremely strong winds, the likes of which we’ve not been seen for a long time.

“This is a huge hurricane with winds that are likely to cause major damage. We can’t do anything about that. Stay indoors - inside is safest.”

Mr DeSilva warned it would be “hours and hours” before people can go outside.

“People must mentally prepare themselves, they will be inside for a long time, the winds will howl for a long time,” he said.

“When it’s all-clear, that’s for the EMO — not the public to jump in their cars and travel.

“People will have been cooped up for eight, 10, 12 hours and people have concerns, family members. If cell phones have gone down, you have to get check on granny, auntie, mom and dad — I get that, I really do. But our plea to the public is if you don’t have to be on the road, don’t be — it’s unhelpful to the emergency services who are assessing damage and getting trucks, people and chainsaws to those locations. We can’t be worried about traffic jams.”

Mr DeSilva said the emergency services — including the police, fire service, Regiment and hospital staff — were all ready for action as soon as the storm had passed.

A boat is available to get people from the East End to hospital should the causeway be damaged.

“Hundreds of people are not hunkered down, not there to help family members,” Mr DeSilva said. “This is what the Police Service is all about — we come to work for other people, not ourselves, to keep other people safe.”