(WSVN) - Many in the Grand Cayman Islands recorded what they woke up to following the strong winds of a dangerous storm system that has since further intensified.
There were reports of flooding and power outages on the islands early Monday morning due to the fierceness of Hurricane Ian.
Locals of the island captured the gusty winds and rain that battered the area early Monday morning.
Others by the water saw toppled palm trees as the storm moved west-southwest of the Cayman Islands.
The government requested assistance from the United Kingdom. A special operations team was deployed to the British territory ahead of the storm.
“I’m here as part of the U.K. military’s operational liaison reconnaissance team. We’re a small team that deployed from the U.K. ahead of the storm at the request of the Cayman Islands government,” said Squadron Leader Rhys Williams with the special operations team.
The special operations team assist with any engineering, communications or logistical needs after the hurricane passes.
The people of Cuba also prepared as Ian moved closer to the western side of the island. The system is expected to hit a rural area where crews on Monday were working hard to protect delicate produce.
“Plantains, for example, which we have the most or right now, because it’s a very vulnerable product,” said Odalys Mercedes Diaz Hojas, the chief of the Alquizar Collective, through a translator.
Havana is located about 167 miles east of where the storm is expected to strike, but the threats of flooding and scarcity of supplies have people making preparations in the capital.
Meanwhile, container ships moved out of the area.
Forecasters described the natural disaster as having “extreme hurricane force winds and life-threatening storm surge.”
The U.S. Coast Guard picked up several migrants from Cuba ahead of the storm, as they continue to patrol the waters.
Officials said about 50,000 people residing in Cuba’s westernmost province have already been evacuated as a precaution. The province extends across 3,400 square miles.
The National Hurricane Center in the U.S. predicts some spots in Cuba could get as much of 14 feet of storm surge Monday night into Tuesday.
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