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In Bahamas, Stories of Survival From Hurricane Dorian In Bahamas, Stories of Survival From Hurricane Dorian
(about 1 hour later)
NASSAU, Bahamas — When the roof blew off his home, Brent Lowe knew that he and the neighbors sheltering there had to get out fast. NASSAU, Bahamas — Days after Hurricane Dorian bore down on the Bahamas as one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, harrowing stories of survival have trickled out.
It was Sunday, and Hurricane Dorian was bearing down on the Abaco Islands in the north of the Bahamas archipelago as one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record. Even as officials were taking stock of the true toll of the storm — at least 20 people dead — relatives of some residents of the Abaco Islands, in the north of the archipelago, were beginning to slowly reunite with their loved ones.
Mr. Lowe, 49, who has been blind for more than a decade, said he waded out of his house carrying his adult son, who has cerebral palsy and cannot walk or talk, on his shoulders. Sandra Cooke, a resident of Nassau, was finally reunited with her sister-in-law on Tuesday, she said, after the roof had collapsed on her during the storm. Ms. Cooke’s brother couldn’t find her at first, but the family dog eventually detected her in the rubble.
“I’m 5 feet 10 inches,” Mr. Lowe said, as he described how he and his had neighbors grasped onto one another as they braved the storm to find safety in a nearby home. “When I stepped off my porch, the water was to my chin in my yard.” The brother, however, could not lift the roof off his wife. When there was a break in the storm, neighbors helped free her.
Such harrowing stories of survival and devastation have trickled out in the days since Hurricane Dorian battered the Bahamas. While the damage to the islands’ infrastructure has been visible from above for days, the full picture from the ground has been slower to come. Early Thursday, officials were still taking stock of the true toll of the storm. “She was trapped under the roof for 17 hours,” Ms. Cooke said from Nassau on Wednesday, adding that she had hired a private helicopter service to rescue her.
Since Hurricane Dorian battered the Bahamas, the damage to the islands’ infrastructure has been visible from above for days. But such stories of rescues and resilience are now being heard. Early Thursday, officials were also taking stock of the true toll of the storm.
[Here’s how to help Hurricane Dorian survivors in the Bahamas.][Here’s how to help Hurricane Dorian survivors in the Bahamas.]
Marvin Dames, the minister of national security, said at a news conference Wednesday night that the process of clearing the streets and making airports available had already begun on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, two areas hit hardest by the hurricane.Marvin Dames, the minister of national security, said at a news conference Wednesday night that the process of clearing the streets and making airports available had already begun on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, two areas hit hardest by the hurricane.
A British Navy vessel is stationed at Abaco for relief support and has been distributing food and water.A British Navy vessel is stationed at Abaco for relief support and has been distributing food and water.
The storm made landfall in the Bahamas on Sunday as a Category 5 hurricane and stalled there for three days, inundating the islands and destroying homes and businesses.The storm made landfall in the Bahamas on Sunday as a Category 5 hurricane and stalled there for three days, inundating the islands and destroying homes and businesses.
In the days since, the storm has weakened significantly, and by Thursday morning was swirling off the coast of the Carolinas as a Category 3 hurricane. Residents there were bracing for dangerous rain, winds and storm surge.In the days since, the storm has weakened significantly, and by Thursday morning was swirling off the coast of the Carolinas as a Category 3 hurricane. Residents there were bracing for dangerous rain, winds and storm surge.
[The Carolinas are next in Hurricane Dorian’s path. We have live updates.][The Carolinas are next in Hurricane Dorian’s path. We have live updates.]
But as Dorian turned north, the trail of destruction emerging in the Bahamas left the nation stunned. At least 20 people have been confirmed dead, government officials said, and the toll was expected to rise. But as Dorian turned north, the trail of destruction emerging in the Bahamas left the nation stunned.
Aerial footage taken over the Abaco Islands showed the devastation: Roads were washed away and debris scattered across beaches. Splintered wood jutted from clusters of damaged homes.Aerial footage taken over the Abaco Islands showed the devastation: Roads were washed away and debris scattered across beaches. Splintered wood jutted from clusters of damaged homes.
Gaining access to Abaco has been problematic, with the island’s airport, Leonard M. Thompson International, left underwater for days after the storm. Gaining access to Abaco has been problematic, with the island’s airport, Leonard M. Thompson International, left underwater for days after the storm. Some people resorted to private companies to aid in the evacuations.
Some people resorted to private companies to aid in the evacuations. Sandra Cooke, a Nassau resident, was reunited with some of her relatives from Abaco on Tuesday after hiring a private helicopter service to rescue them.
“My sister-in-law, their roof collapsed on her,” Ms. Cooke said from Nassau on Wednesday. “She was trapped under the roof for 17 hours. My brother couldn’t find her.”
The family dog eventually found her in the rubble, but Ms. Cooke’s brother couldn’t lift the roof off his wife. When there was a break in the storm, neighbors helped free her.
“Today was the first day we’ve been able to get her out,” Ms. Cooke said. “She can’t walk.”
Mr. Lowe, who waded to safety on Sunday, was taken by helicopter to Nassau on Tuesday night because he requires dialysis three times a week.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life,” he said. “It was scary, so scary.”
He and his neighbors managed to ride out the storm together before being taken to a shelter.
Mr. Lowe said that he hoped to return to Abaco, but was unsure of his future there.
“I’m just wondering where we’re going to live when I go back home, what I’m going to do,” he said, adding that as many as 90 percent of the homes in the Abaco areas of Murphy Town and Dundas Town had been damaged or destroyed.
“I’m talking about roofs gone, houses totally collapsed everywhere,” he said.
Officials made pleas for support and prayers from the international community.Officials made pleas for support and prayers from the international community.
“There are no words to convey the grief we feel for our fellow Bahamians in the Abacos and Grand Bahama,” Dionisio D’Aguilar, the tourism and aviation minister, said in a statement. “Now is the time to come together for our brothers and sisters in need, and help our country get back on its feet.”“There are no words to convey the grief we feel for our fellow Bahamians in the Abacos and Grand Bahama,” Dionisio D’Aguilar, the tourism and aviation minister, said in a statement. “Now is the time to come together for our brothers and sisters in need, and help our country get back on its feet.”
He urged travelers to visit areas in the Bahamas that were not affected by the storm in order to aid the country’s economic recovery.He urged travelers to visit areas in the Bahamas that were not affected by the storm in order to aid the country’s economic recovery.