The Royal Bermuda Regiment is tonight gearing up in case Hurricane Joaquin hits the Island on Sunday.

Equipment will be stationed east of the Causeway tomorrow in case the East End is cut off and up to 120 troops are on 12 hours notice to deploy.

Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) Commanding Officer Lt Col Michael Foster-Brown said: “We are hoping these preparations and precautions won’t be required — but if they are we will be ready.”

Col Foster-Brown added that, if needed, troop deployments would involve Immediate Response Teams on land and on the water, and support soldiers like chefs, drivers and signallers.

He said: “We take our hurricane preparedness very seriously.

“We had the experience of Fay and Gonzalo last October in quick succession and we have refined our response even further as a result of that ten-day deployment.

“We have been in close contact with the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) and have now reduced our notice to move from 24 hours to 12 hours.”

Col Foster-Brown added: “If pre-embodied, it will likely be a partial embodiment initially, focusing on our main role of opening access routes for emergency services.”

And he said soldiers should follow the messages on www.bermudaregiment.bm and from their company — particularly if the BWS formally declare a Hurricane Watch.

Col Foster-Brown added that the regiment had been asked to be prepared to provide up to 17 soldiers to help residential care homes ride out the hurricane if it comes.

He said: “This task is an extension of a similar successful one over Gonzalo.”