Bahamas Damage From Hurricane Dorian - 9-5-19 Update
As the world saw the damage from Hurricane Dorian was extreme in the Northern Bahamas. We previously posted how people could help those in need in the Bahamas and where to drop off needed relief supplies. This article is all about things that have happened or are happening in the islands now.
September 5th – Updates From the Bahamas
– HTVFR Hopetown coordinated the successful evacuation of close to forty people via planes, boats, and watercraft. The evacuees are safely off-island.
– HTVFR Stateside assisted in coordinating valuable medical and logistics support for the evacuation and resupply effort. The Stateside team has expanded in numbers and scope, and we are working to continue to support our HTVFR Hopetown team and community.
– The teams are looking to achieve more success tomorrow. The teams are hoping to continue to complete the mission of the evacuation of individuals from Hopetown into safe and secure locations.
– The HTVFR Hopetown community continues to hold daily meetings and briefings. They have readied existing structures for mobile units and for incoming medical and recovery staff. Jane Patterson and her crew have coordinated a review of real estate assets on the island, and they have prepared spaces for incoming support staff and community members.
– The teams are working to get our people to safety and to continue to support our home and community. HTVFR Hopetown continues to amaze all who hear of the work that they have accomplished in the face of such adversity. Hopetown continues to be the beacon.
Good night and God Bless You All.
FREEPORT RESIDENTS!!!
Bahamas Paradise Cruise lines will have a ship leaving from Freeport in the morning that can take anyone that wants to leave the island to south Florida FREE of charge all they need to do is show up before 4pm tomorrow September 6th and make a reservation to receive passage …please spread this to relevant parties
Must be there by 6pm
Leaving Freeport 8pm
Must have Valid passport
Arrival Palm Beach 7am Sat
– INCREDIBLE! Cooks for Royal Caribbean prepped 10,000 meals that will be delivered to the Bahamas aboard the Empress of the Seas ship.
Green Turtle Cay Updates
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Green Turtle Cay community for what they have endured with the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. It’s been reported that at least 1/2 of the homes on the Island have been destroyed.
Help us save Green Turtle Cay by donating to this GoFundMe page set up by Green Turtle Club and Friends on Empty Pockets: https://www.gofundme.com/f/
The Green Turtle Cay Foundation is working with professional disaster relief organizations to provide the Island with badly needed supplies and materials to help the people get back on their feet. The plan is to access the needs and to start airlift and boat lift operations by the end of this week as the weather clears….where then they can mobilize materials and boots on the ground to help.
All funds donated are tax-deductible and 100% of funds will go to relief efforts. The Green Turtle Cay community has a 501c3 Green Turtle Cay Foundation (USA registered) that the funds will be deposited to.
We greatly appreciate any and all help – and PLEASE SHARE this with your friends and family. Thank you.
– Boats coming in from the US are not being turned away but they do have to make proper clearance please contact Adrian Cartright to make sure that you don’t have any problems. (+1) 242-804-1414
– PLEASE HELP!
although South Abaco faired better the MH and north as far as damage. We are still in the dark. No electricity. Phone service is sketchy. Food, Water and Gas are limited. We are at extreme rationing measures. Permanent Residents in Casurina Point , Bahama Palm Shores and other settlements have joined together as a community and family and we are taking care of each other.
However, with no stores with food or water, no gas stations and roads still flooded, only accessible by big trucks. We will soon be out of bare necessities.
If anyone can please contact any USCG, or other missions sending food and supplies to MH and ask them to remember us down here. They should be able to land a chopper on the highway. Or a boat out in water, we do have bone fishing boats that can meet off shore.
Coordinates are: 26.2761239, -77.0941369
Please we are desperate. We need help too.
– This has been issued; Several pilots, flight companies, vital-life flights etc
have applied for NEMA clearance with no response from the Bahamian government. So now vital supplies that have been gathered will just sit in warehouses. Anyone have any positive ideas to help?
Motor Yacht Loon
We departed Nassau at 0600 this morning loaded to the brim with supplies and DART team of 12 to keep the vessel secure and to secure the port in Marsh Harbour.
Conditions are tolerable with approx 15’ following seas and 20-25kts of wind directly behind us.
We hope to be in the Abacos tonight and begin tender runs ashore with the most vital supplies as soon as possible.
There is still tons of supplies and donations needed. Please keep on your network asking people to donate to YachtAid Global
– Hey we have gotten word that Jeremy Wong and other men have set up a barricade at Jamie‘s place and they are armed trying to keep looters out. I’ve also heard that the looters raided the hardware stores and have guns. Please please make sure that anybody that goes in is armed
“I have been informed that many businesses including Abaco Hardware have been looted, the looters armed themselves with guns.
Residents of Regattas Condominium complex were forced to leave as looters had taken over the complex and were stealing all contents. They are now at a home on Pelican Shores. About 40 people in total. The men have tried to block roads to try and prevent looters on to Pelican Shores. It is imperative that there is a police presence; especially as water recedes allowing access into residential areas. Please. Whoever gets this. Police protection is also needed in Abaco.”
CAN THIS BE CHECKED OUT BY AUTHORITIES?
– If you have a marine radio and need evacuation please monitor channel 16 of the US Coast Guard. They will be in and around the Marsh Harbour area flying copters tomorrow. If you wave white flags/ yell to get their attention they have the ability to get permission to rescue you out to Nassau. I was told this directly from higher up USCG official. They don’t have the ability to go door to door.
If you can get me longitude and latitude of a location to land and will be there at a specific time I can pass it on.
Old Bahamas Bay Marina
Friends on the island of GB and a government official in charge of the relief effort. the main message is OLD BAHAMAS BAY MARINA IS NOT OPEN, DO NOT TRAVEL OVER. it is not safe and you will be turned away. Until the owners are able to survey the seabed for debris, they are not insured for any boat. They are so grateful for the support and all those wanting to go over to help, but ask you just please wait. A co-ordinated relief effort will ensure that the people who desperately need help will get the help. They do not want/need clothes. Disease is now a major concern due to bodies and sewerage waters. NOBODY has been granted any special licences. They need chainsaws, fuel, tents, tarps, generators (fuel only). blankets and insect repellant and disinfectant. If you cannot donate this, please donate to the gofundme page set up.
[https://www.gofundme.com/f/
– Sheila the road Freeport to west end has gone, the main Intersection by the brewery has gone, OBB is ok ish but the marina we don’t know yet
– On Grand Bahama, bridges are either under water or out. Haven’t heard much specifically from west or east but there is devastation on the island. airports are destroyed. Hospital had taken on water. Central command police station flooded. Downtown Freeport flooded.
The number one priority is rescue and recovery and is still in progress. Marsh Harbour is expected to be completely evacuated within two weeks. This is an enormous task due to boat and air access limitations
Second priority is medical; treatment, facilities, medications and supplies.
Third is MRE’s. As gross as this sounds in comparison to fresh meals it is the only option at this time.
This is what is needed now and in the near future.
Tourism is the main source of income and there will be many people relocated and out of jobs. Everyone needs to think about taking their boating excursions a little further to islands where they may be living and working such as Harbour Island or Eleuthera.
Once the relocation and boating is available then private boats should be able to contact their destination marina to deliver supplies to those affected by the storm. Without sufficient employment they will need supplies.
A large percentage of the income stream in The Bahamas comes from tourism, we can all help by being an active tourist this year. Fuel tax, cruising permits all contribute to the people and not just the government. Even though we choose to be active boaters and humanitarians on the same trip don’t expect these fees to be waived and graciously accept the duty free status of your incoming donations.
– A message to all civilian aircraft trying to assist relief efforts in The Bahamas:
Thank you for offering your support. You MUST contact The Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority before you fly.
Help us keep victims and first responders safe. Avoid confusion and interference with ongoing flights and operations.
Bahamas aftermath of Hurricane Dorian Continues
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