A home destroyed during the hurricane.

Prime Minister Perry Christie said at a press conference Sunday evening that an exigency order will take effect on Tuesday in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Christie pointed out that Hurricane Joaquin, which hit parts of The Bahamas in 2015, was estimated to cause $100 million in damage. He said the damage caused by Matthew is likely much greater.

"Enormous damage has been inflicted on thousands of Bahamians who were not so affected in such numbers by Hurricane Joaquin," said Christie at the National Emergency Management Agency headquarters on Gladstone Road.

"...This is not an easy matter for this country."

He said the exigency orders will cover building materials, furniture and vehicles.

"We have met lots of people whose vehicles have really been lost because of flooding," the prime minister said.

"As we move forward we have to take into consideration other personal belongings that should be covered."

The prime minister also said, "The Chamber [of Commerce] has requested, we think we have negotiated a position with them that we find a way to recognize that persons who make donations should be encouraged and incentivized to do so by taxation credits, and we are, I think, in agreement but it has to be submitted to me for final consideration by the Cabinet..."

He said: "We need a new financing model to deal with hurricane expenditure. In the past we have taken away from all minister's budget allocation to finance hurricane relief.

"A special hurricane fund by way of a bond. It will require the banks to participate in that offering. The financial secretary is in discussions as we speak and we have had discussions with the Chamber of Commerce so that we can have a shared vision as to what that money will be used for."

Christie also said NEMA has to be strengthened considerably.

He announced that Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson has been appointed to coordinate hurricane relief efforts at the government level.

"Gibson is mandated to incorporate a larger team immediately because we cannot wait on the normal way of doing things because people are suffering," the prime minister said.

Gibson said at the press conference that New Providence, Grand Bahama and North Andros were impacted most severely.

"A massive recovery and relief response is required," the minister said.

He said food and water have already been delivered to Andros.

Gibson said there has been "extensive damage on the entire southern area of New Providence".

There has been "massive" damage to homes, he said, adding that many vehicles had water damage.

Gibson also spoke of the devastation in Grand Bahama, where a large cross section of the transmission and distribution services of Grand Bahama Power was damaged.

He said the Rand Memorial Hospital and Grand Bahama clinics are operating on generators.

"All essential government services are up and running despite the challenges of Hurricane Matthew," Gibson said.

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