Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon Perry Christie (right) and Minister for the Environment and Housing the Hon. Kenred Dorsett view an example of the damage meted out by Hurricane Matthew in a Misty Gardens residence, during a recent visit of the southern New Providence community. (BIS Photo/Eric Rose)

Clothed in shorts, sandals and a singlet, Misty Gardens resident Mr. Jason Sands stood in his neighbour's disheveled and besieged yard as one of the unsung heroes of the ravages of Hurricane Matthew -- recounting the tale of how a trio came together to risk their lives to save those who did not heed the warnings to evacuate their southern New Providence community, and did not expect the onslaught the storm brought to their doorsteps.

"That morning, the water came up -- up to your chest -- and we went down by a lady at the end of the corner named Ms. Brown.  Ms. Brown’s house was like the safest house that we went in and, afterwards, we called NEMA (the National Emergency Management Agency) and they sent a big truck," Mr. Sands said, as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon Perry Christie, Minister with responsibility for Hurricane Relief and Restoration the Hon. Shane Gibson, Minister of the Environment and Housing the Hon. Kenred Dorsett, NEMA Director Captain Stephen Russell, and other stakeholders listened with rapt attention.

"And after they sent the big truck, we went out to get the truck, to bring them in the back; and after we brought the truck in the back, we helped all of the people onto the truck," he pointed out, speaking of the other two members of the trio -- identified as Mr. Trevor Lightbourne and Mr. Neville Neely.

Mr. Sands continued, saying that the "heroic trio" went further into the flooded area, knocking on doors to try and assist other waterlogged and trapped persons. When the truck left, he said, the trio went back out again looking for more persons that they might have missed earlier.

"Then a big yellow bus came in and we stopped them and we went to the first and second corners and rescued the rest of people because, man, it was a moment," he added.

What Mr. Sands modestly noted, after prodding from others in the yard, was that there were a number of children and babies rescued by the small band of men -- including the baby cheerfully gurgling in the arms of the female neighbour standing nearby.

Their actions drew accolades from those nearby.

"They decided after water from the sea came raging through this community and started to fill up homes and the streets, that they would try to evacuate as many of the residents as possible and I believe that those three gentlemen are responsible for at least 20-plus people being removed," Minister Dorsett commented.

"I commend the other neighbours -- the Mackeys, Ms. Thompson, most of the persons who had two-storey structures who allowed people to enter into their homes… it's really an account of heroism," Minister Dorsett pointed out.  "And the community came together when we needed each other most."

Among the neighbours who were identified by name for opening their homes to their neighbours included Ms. Karen Thompson and Ms. Michelle Pickstock.

When asked about the storm surge, Mr. Sands pointed out that it came in very quickly that morning, stating that there was no evidence of it at 7 a.m. when he was outside in his yard.

"I went back inside and made a cup of hot tea," he recounted.  "When I looked back outside, I watched the bags start floating.  When I opened the door, water started coming in."

Misty Gardens resident Jason Sands (right) recounts the neighbourhood's encounter with Hurricane Matthew as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon Perry Christie, left, and Minister for the Environment and Housing the Hon. Kenred Dorsett listen, recently, during a visit of the southern New Providence community. (BIS Photo/Eric Rose)

"My car floated out the driveway.  That's when I said 'Time to get from around here', and that was it," Mr. Sands added.  "When we jumped into the jeep, the water was waist high in the jeep -- if water waist high in the jeep, water outside was much higher."

"Everybody was crying and screaming," Mr. Sands said quietly.

"All that was going through our minds was 'Lord, help us. Help us'," Mr. Sands shared.

"And when the truck left us, I was like, 'We in this water waist high, I hope that no shark come around here'," he added to the laughs of his neighbours.

He left one final thought that rang through during the ordeal.

"As long as, as many lives that we could save as possible, that was it," Mr. Sands said.

By Eric Rose

Bahamas Information Services