Publications

The Cayman Islands National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan was first issued July 2021 and revised August 2025 by the Cayman Islands Coast Guard (CICG).

CICG is responsible for the delivery of Maritime SAR within the territory, including territorial waters.  Urban or land does not fall within CICG's remit. 

The overall aim of the National Disaster Management Plan is to provide a structure to manage the effects of natural and/or man-made hazards occurring in the Cayman Islands.

It reflects the comprehensive disaster management approach, as it provides for development of preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery procedures and plans.

The Plan assigns responsibilities and coordination of emergency activities connected with major disasters.

The plan addresses the short- and long-term objectives of the National Disaster Management Programme, and is subject to continuous scrutiny, review and upgrading as deemed necessary, based on new research and experience.

For the purpose of the National Plan, Government includes all statutory authorities and government-owned companies.

Volume 1 of the National Disaster Management Plan, and sets out information on the Cayman Islands, hazards that pose a threat and the national structure for managing the threats.

The National Hurricane Plan provides the general framework for the implementation of the procedures for emergency response.

The plan is to be used for:

• Education and training, including exercises by HMCI for the phases of an emergency; preparedness, response, and recovery from tropical cyclones. In the event that the NEOC is activated for a forecast weather event, the HMCI Director may choose to apply that in lieu of an exercise but will not do so more than two consecutive seasons.
• Coordinating response actions through routine updating of multi-agency procedures for operational response to Tropical Cyclones in the Cayman Islands.
• Guidance to the United Kingdom, the international community, government agencies, the private sector, voluntary organisations, and the general public on actions before, during and after a hurricane.

The Airport Emergency Plan (version 7) is the current operational document to be used in the event of a significant emergency or incident at the Owen Roberts International Airport. 

This Plan is drafted and managed by the Cayman Islands Airports Authority and is subject to continuous revision, and the latest version will be published on this page.

The Cayman Islands National Hurricane Plan used for education and training; coordinating response; and providing guidance. 

The Tsunami Preparedness Plan for the Cayman Islands is written and issued by Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) to ensure that:

• All practical precautions are taken in advance to minimise, prevent and protect against the loss of life, risk of injury to people during a Tsunami through public education.
• Operational response to an event is based on a continuous flow of accurate information from a variety of sources, which will allow the NEOC to evaluate overall conditions and prioritise the deployment of personnel, equipment and relief resources.
• Damage assessment and recovery measures are incorporated, which provides for the timely and efficient transition from immediate response to post-tsunami recovery operations.

Response operations may continue on different levels over an extended period of time due to changing conditions that continue to threaten life and property. Transition into Cayman Islands National Tsunami Plan 2 recovery is an important element of disaster response and will commence while emergency response is still occurring.