In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation (GBDRF) - the organization formed by the Directors of Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to oversee relief efforts - quickly sprang into action to meet the needs of impacted residents. With the help of its many partners, the GBDRF has spearheaded a series of rescue operations, particularly in the hard-hit East End, in addition to providing water, food, clothing, and other relief items to Grand Bahamian families.

“Once the emergency food and water aid strategy was locked down, we then turned our attention to providing medical care,” said Joe Oliver, Outreach Coordinator with the GBDRF. “That has involved treating patients with ruptured stomach ulcers, to taking the necessary precautions to prevent diseases like gangrene and tetanus or any other sort of infections.” Working with doctors from the Rand Memorial Hospital, the team established protocols to provide immediate medical attention, using various donated vehicles to reach the far-flung parts of the island with the necessary medical care.

To date, the GBDRF has successfully cleared some 20 containers of donated items that will be distributed to residents over the next several weeks. “We’ve been working closely with the Department of Customs who have been extremely helpful in making the process a smooth one,” noted GBDRF Logistics Manager, Noel Clarke. “Many of the customs officers themselves have been severely impacted by the storm and even in such cases, they have worked along with us to ensure that we can provide relief for as many persons as possible.”

Now, the organization headed by GBPA Executive Director Rupert Hayward is preparing to launch a second wave of relief focused on the rebuild and restoration of Freeport and its surrounding settlements. “We’ve got a secure supply chain through our distribution network and we’re getting donated supplies onto the island, sorted and distributed to those in need,” explained Hayward. “Our secondary function now is to bring in building supplies.”

According to Hayward, the organization will, in the coming weeks and months seek to engage construction companies based on Grand Bahama in an effort to provide employment opportunities for the scores of affected Bahamians. “Our next steps will focus on two key things: one, providing adequate housing, which for us means making it possible for Grand Bahamians to move back into their own homes and two, creating an environment where Bahamians can get back to work and earn a decent living as well.”

Through its website www.gbdisasterrelief.org, the organization will continue the work of soliciting and importing important relief supplies.

“The next layer of care will be to procure and provide building materials like tarps, nails hammers and everything in between” he noted. “The hope is that we can work on homes that are still viable and make them liveable and safe until a full rebuild can be done.”

Hurricane Dorian made landfall over Abaco and Grand Bahama islands from September 1 to 2. The monster system rated as a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale brought with it sustained wind speeds of approximately 185 miles per hour (mph), which resulted in unprecedented and catastrophic destruction including at least 43 confirmed deaths so far. The monster storm rated a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale—damaged an estimated 13,000 homes in The Northern Bahamas, along with countless businesses. The Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Organization remain committed to rebuilding Freeport and restoring the Grand to Grand Bahama Island.

 

Acting President of the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation (GBDRF) Rupert Hayward poses alongside the organization's logistics manager Noel Clarke after clearing recent containers of donated items from local and international partners.

 

Teams from the Trinidadian Army have been on the ground on Grand Bahama, assisting with unloading containers of goods donated through the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation (GBDRF)

(Photo Courtesy of GBDRF for Barefoot Marketing)