By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Emergency Management Agency Director Capt Stephen Russell yesterday urged residents throughout the country to finalise hurricane preparations as the country enters the peak of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane season.

Capt Russell cautioned residents to routinely check local media and social media platforms for updates, pointing to the projected path of current system Invest 92 –L through the Bahamas.

An invest is an area of disturbed weather that has been designated as a system of interest by the National Hurricane Centre with potential of subtropical or tropical development.

On Friday, the NHC forecasters said Invest 92L has a 60 per cent chance of becoming Tropical Storm Irma, with a projected path that will move in a west-northwestward direction towards The Bahamas and Florida through Tuesday.

Capt Russell said: "You should all be aware at this time that there are a number of tropical systems in the Atlantic Ocean, and one or two are projected to cross over, or come near The Bahamas during the upcoming week.

"Even though the systems have not been named, I would like to urge all residents throughout The Bahamas to continue to monitor these systems as we go into the weekend.”

He continued: "We are all aware that in 2015, Tropical Storm Joaquin, rapidly intensified and became a major hurricane, which impacted islands in the Central and Southeast Bahamas."

"As long as the current system (Invest 92 –L) is projected to pass through The Bahamas, I would like to urge all residents to make those final preparations to protect homes, businesses, check your family disaster plan, family emergency kits, and your communications plans."