The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS in Grand Bahama say they can’t recall a more damaging hurricane on their island than Hurricane Matthew, the category four storm with 140mph winds that barreled through the island late Thursday.

The storm flattened houses and tore roofs off buildings, leaving many without homes on an island that is still struggling to rebound from the economic devastation wrought by Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances in 2004.

One island official estimated that Grand Bahama could be without power for up to seven weeks, but expressed optimism that the restoration would not take that long.

“We have more damage now than we had following Hurricane Frances,” said West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe, referring to the storm that killed two people and flooded much of the island.

“The settlements in West End itself were severely damaged,” he said. “We lost many homes and saw many businesses literally blown away. The oldest hotel in the country, though many decades old, is still standing but was severely damaged.”

Mr Wilchcombe said thousands of people have been impacted in Grand Bahama by the ferocious storm.

“Eight Mile Rock alone is the largest single settlement in the country, so about 20,000 plus people have been affected,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

“Holmes Rock, Sea Grape, Hannah Hill, all the areas, including Little Bay - all received damage during the hurricane,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “Large numbers of homes have lost roofs and it’s a time when the community must come together and work.

“We have put together an area in a church that’s beginning to feed people, provide water and comfort,” the minister of tourism added. “We are receiving assistance and there are mission flights coming in from the US. There will always be shortages but we’ll make do with what we have.

“At the moment we’re working hard to get out to the people and meet them where they are. They community is holding tight, holding together. We were able to clear up the main streets and villages. We’re removing conch shells and dealing with the large quantities of debris that’s all over the place. We’re moving boats that were in the water but now are on land and in settlements,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

Devastation

Preston Cunningham, administrator for Freeport, also expressed alarm at the destruction. He has been in three major hurricanes in his life, including Hurricane Joaquin when it devastated Acklins last year.

The damage from Matthew in Grand Bahama, however, is the worst he has ever experienced.

He told The Tribune on Sunday: “It’s a heck of a time in Grand Bahama.”

“In West Grand Bahama, everyone got hit,” Mr Cunningham added. “Some homes fell flat to the ground. In Port Lucaya, the marketplace roof peeled right off. It looks like an earthquake around here almost.”

Scores of Grand Bahama residents are still in shelters around the island, after losing their homes during the storm.

“We continually manage a few shelters for those who have been displaced,” Mr Cunningham said. “We will seek to bring relief for as long as we can until we can come to a decision about what to do about people in shelters.”

However, a major shelter, a gymnasium, was compromised during the storm, causing people to leave.

Many who have been displaced are staying with family and friends now.

Mr Cunningham added that people on the island need drinking water and ice, and said even though the airport in Grand Bahama is closed to international travel for now, officials will work to make it available for people coming in with relief supplies so long as they give advance notice of their intentions.

The airport is open from sunrise to sunset for general aviation and domestic flights only, according to government officials.

Harvey Roberts, administrator for East Grand Bahama, said to The Tribune that the island could be without electricity for as long as “six to seven weeks.”

“A company out of Tampa brought their trucks already lined up in the harbour to help,” he added, “so maybe it won’t take as long as that.”

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also began its assessments of North Andros and Grand Bahama on Saturday, as those areas were hardest hit by Matthew’s 140mph winds. New Providence also experienced significant damage from the storm.

In a statement, NEMA said a team that included Prime Minister Perry Christie would “quickly assess the damage of infrastructure, see how many people are displaced and inspect critical facilities with a view to how quickly life can be restored to some sense of normalcy.”

“NEMA has also mobilised officials to the most significantly impacted areas on New Providence, specifically Marshall Road, Misty Gardens, Pastel Gardens, and other areas along the south and southwest shores to assess damage and to make recommendations to the government regarding relief, recovery and reconstruction,” the statement said.

NEMA’s team took supplies like “baby items, canned goods and water” to North Andros and Grand Bahama during its trip on Saturday.