Last week, Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Abacos as a Category 5 storm with reported winds in excess of 185 mph before parking over Grand Bahama island for more than a day, and leaving much of the islands in ruins.
If you are looking for more information on Hurricane Dorian, the storm’s impacts and ways to help, here is a compilation of news updates and resources that we’ve compiled and will be updating:
From Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue 9/8/19: HTVFR US Command reports that the community continues to pull together and are working to continue to evacuate individuals as needed and receive vital medical and logistical support.
HTVFR Command Hope Town does not want any more supplies or boats to come over. They ask us to request that everyone halt trips to Hope Town. They have what they need and are assessing and stabilizing. They need people to stay away to be able to do this. They appreciate everyone's support but staying away is the greatest support we can provide right now.
Please continue to support Hope Town through http://htvfr.org and https://www.percabaco.org and https://www.gofundme.com/f/hurricane-relief-for-elbow-cay-amp
On-the-ground updates from Hope Town Sailing Club
Hurricane Updates:
Looking for someone in the Northern Bahamas?
Dorian People Search
The City of Miami, Florida, is accepting donations at several sites around the city.
Dream Yacht
We are relieved to confirm that all of our team in Marsh Harbour are safe and accounted for following the category 5 storm in the Bahamas.
Our fleet of 30 boats based at Abaco were removed from the path of Dorian and taken to Nassau, as part of our advance hurricane planning. In terms of operations, the base, docks and islands have sustained heavy damage. For the next two months, all departures will take place from our base in Nassau.
Loic Bonnet, founder and CEO of Dream Yacht Charter says: “Our thoughts are with the people of Abaco during this challenging time and as they start to think about the recovery ahead of them. Our Abaco fleet sustained no damage and this is thanks to the incredible work of the base team, who worked fast under difficult circumstances to protect our fleet. We are thankful everyone is safe.”
Current status of the Islands
The Islands of the Bahamas Tourist Board has said: “Islands that were not impacted by Hurricane Dorian remain open and are receiving visitors. In the Northwest Bahamas, these include the Bahamas capital of Nassau and neighboring Paradise Island, as well as Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Andros. Islands in the Southeastern and Central Bahamas remain unaffected, including The Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklins/Crooked Island, Ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua. Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau remains open.”
The Moorings
As many of you are aware, Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Abacos, Bahamas as a category 5 storm over the weekend, one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Damage to the Abacos and Grand Bahama is extensive.
At this time our main priority is to establish the safety of our colleagues in Marsh Harbour. Communication with the island is difficult, and we hope to provide further updates as information becomes available. All Moorings guests who were on charter prior to landfall were properly recalled to the marina and evacuated from the Bahamas.
Our fleet and charter operations in Nassau and the Exumas were unaffected by the storm and remain open.
In the meantime, The Moorings & Sunsail have established a collection at our Clearwater, FL office for essential items, which we will ship to the Bahamas at the earliest opportunity. Please see the form attached for more information if you would like to help.
Cruise Abaco
Like all of you, we are simply devastated by the catastrophic damage and destruction left behind by Hurricane Dorian. As we watched it approach, we had all hoped and prayed that the storm would somehow weaken and/or turn just enough that Abaco wouldn't be in the direct path of such a slow-moving Cat 5 beast of a storm. We knew it would be bad, but nothing could have prepared us for this, not even the many storms we have all withstood in the past.
Clearly, we have only just begun to assess the damage, but that very difficult task begins today, from sunrise to sunset, island by island. We know that there will still be many days of worry and many tears to shed, but with each story of a loved one located, a cherished memory pulled from the rubble, a helping hand on our shoulders, from near and far, we will regain our strength.
We assure you that we are deeply committed to and invested in the greater community of Abaco, where we have spent most of our lives building our home and business in one of the world’s most beautiful island nations. We know that the people of the Bahamas are amazingly hardworking and resilient. With the grace of God and the help of others, we will work together to rebuild our homes, our businesses and most importantly, our lives.
The sails must be raised in our hearts, before they can ever be raised on the masts of our boats. Please know that we will do all we can to help our friends, neighbors and greater Abaco Family.
With our love and prayers always,
Mark and Patti Gonsalves – Proud Owners of Cruise Abaco
Navtours Bahamas Nassau Update
Thankfully, Navtours at its Palm Cay Marina charter base in Nassau was not in the path of Hurricane Dorian.
Our guest and team members, our boats and marina are all safe and secure. Our charter operations in the Bahamas continue uninterrupted.
Please join us in sending positive thoughts to our neighbors in the Abacos, Grand Bahama and other areas where they have experienced catastrophic devastation from Hurricane Dorian.
