As some islands continue to reel from the devastation brought on by Hurricane Irene, local aid groups are bringing relief to residents across the country who were hardest hit by the storm. Items such as water and food are desperately needed in some of the islands including areas in Cat Island, Acklins, Crooked Island and Rum Cay, where some residents lost just about everything.
So far several non-profit organizations have stepped up to the plate. Red Cross Director Caroline Turnquest told The Guardian yesterday that the organization spent up to $30,000 on its initial response efforts to send emergency supplies to Cat Island and Acklins. Turnquest said food parcels, towels, bedding, tarp and water were among the supplies transported to those Family Islands. The food parcels can feed a family of four for a day. Turnquest added that the Red Cross' efforts will be ongoing.
Yesterday, volunteers packed food parcels for the next shipment, which is expected to go out sometime this week. International Red Cross representative Chiran Livera arrived on the island a couple of days ago to support the local Red Cross with its needs and assessment response efforts. He said he is pleased with the response of the Bahamian people so far.
While New Providence and Grand Bahama were spared the full force of the storm, many Family Islands were severly impacted in some cases. Power lines and telecommunications went down in some islands as the category three storm roared across the archipelago.
On Cat Island major damage was done to the electrical and telecommunications infrastructure. That island remains without power, and there is no indication of when it will be restored. Meantime, several houses were flattened, and buildings were damaged during the passage of the storm across the country.
Irene impacted every island in The Bahamas between Wednesday and Friday last week. And even though it's dealing with the damage to its own buildings, the Salvation Army is also pitching in relief efforts. Major Oral Morris, the Salvation Army's divisional secretary for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, said the organization is working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to ensure that supplies are provided to those who need it most. Representatives of the Salvation Army and the Red Cross toured a number of islands on Saturday with NEMA officials.
"Since then we have sent food items and water to the islands. And we are waiting for NEMA to say to us what they need from us," Morris said.
Both Morris and Turnquest agree that despite their efforts, residents are still in need of water, food and other supplies to help in the rebuilding effort. Meantime, the Bahamas Methodist Habitat also stepped up to the plate, offering a number of local and foreign volunteers of all skill levels to assist with the rebuilding of the communities ravaged by Irene.
Relief teams have already visited Cat Island, Crooked Island and Eleuthera. The organization has been assisting with relief efforts since Hurricane Andrew devastated the country in 1992. Abraham Mcintyre, director of the organization, said the group plans to continue its relief efforts over the next several weeks. NEMA Director Captain Stephen Russell said NEMA is coordinating the responses of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Great Commission Ministries International.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
