The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

HURRICANE Matthew left widespread destruction throughout the island of Grand Bahama from East End to West End, ripping off roofs, uprooting trees, toppling utility poles, and damaging homes and property.

The eye of the category four storm passed just off West End on Thursday evening, packing winds of 130 mph, rain, thunder, and causing massive damage and flooding to structures.

Electricity poles are down throughout the entire island, and some 18,000 residents and businesses are left without electricity and water.

There was reported flooding in some areas of the island up to five to six feet, and road access into the eastern part of the island was blocked as a result of trees and utility poles that had fallen in the street.

Fortunately, there was no loss of life on Grand Bahama. The settlements on the southern coast, including Eight Mile Rock, Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, Hunters and Mack Town were also devastated.

Teams are out conducting assessments of the various communities, including the Grand Bahama Power Company which has dispatched emergency teams throughout the island in an effort to restore power as quickly as possible.

In the Freeport area, businesses also suffered tremendous damage, including Castaways Resort, which lost a portion of its roof, and the once iconic International Bazaar is in shambles.

In downtown Freeport, huge trees and branches littered the thoroughfares. Business owners were out inspecting and cleaning up the damage to their businesses yesterday. Esquire’s Men Fashion lost its roof which had collapsed during the storm.

The island began experiencing the harsh effects of hurricane Matthew around 4pm on Thursday when power was lost. Soon afterwards, ZNS’s radio AM 810 band was knocked out, but its 104.5 FM band remained operational throughout the storm.

The shelter for the disabled at the Foster Pestaina Centre in Freeport had to be abandoned after the roof was torn off..

Roof shingles and cement roof tiles had blown off many homes and were strewn about the area. While most metal roofs held up well, some of the metal sheathing of others had peeled off like the tops of sardine cans in the storm.

And the roof of a home on Westminster Drive had blown off and landed in the backyard of another resident. Trees were shredded, mangled and uprooted.

In the Port Lucaya area, a lot of trees and power lines had fallen across the road.

“The amount of down power lines is incredible, and the landscape of Grand Bahama has been changed forever, it will never be the same again,” is how ZNS broadcaster Ricardo Lightbourne described the devastation. “There is catastrophic damage and it is devastating at this point.”

Gladstone Russell reported that all residents who had stayed on Sweeting’s Cay, despite an evacuation order, were safe.

Pastor Baillou of High Rock reported that East Grand Bahama did not fare well.

“We had a lot of damage, church roofs and windows were blown out, and poles are down and streets are impassable,” he said.

He said nothing was spared the wrath of Matthew and that even the church in High Rock had lost its roof.

In Heritage Subdivision, many residents were out and about cleaning up debris from their yards for collection.

“We had rain coming in through the roof, but I can live with that; my family is alive and safe, material things can be replaced and repaired,” said one resident.

Heritage resident Gordon Higgs said he fared well, but suffered damage to his vehicle when the neighbours’ shingles were blown off during the storm.

Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville said the Rand Memorial Hospital suffered minor damage, but is up and running.

He also noted that all essential government services are up and Urban Renewal received calls from persons in distress who were in need of being moved to higher ground.

“It has been severe damage to the island of Grand Bahama. And for us who went through two storms and I am concerned for our economy,” he said.

Michelle Reckley, assistant director of Urban Renewal, said that a lot of families are in need of psychological counselling and help in relocating.

“Looking in the faces of these families is not easy. Some people have lost every single thing. Some parts of Sea Horse Village and South Bahamia are devastated,” she reported.

“The recovery process is not going to be easy but we will do as best we can. There are some families we have to move because they literally looking in the sky and they have small children and we are looking for places to relocate those persons,” she said.

Mrs Reckley appealed to anyone with a building to house families to contact Urban Renewal.

Dr Darville also urged businesses to cease from the illegal practice of price gouging.

“We have received information that the price of water and wood went up. We plead to the business community to be fair during this time and display compassion. We understand you are in business to make money but there is a realistic price for items.”

“Prices gouging is a crime, and our inspectors will be on the road at this time to verify that these prices are around the original prices. And I am pleading for businesses to be fair with residents who are now presently in distress,” he said.