Hurricane Dorian has left a permanent scar on Bahamas

BY LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH

Two years after category five Hurricane Dorian rocked the Abaco Islands, the small island is still coming to grips with the adverse impact it has had on the lives of Bahamians.

The panel discussion, held by the Centre of Biosecurity Studies at the University of The West Indies, was under the theme of Stories of Disaster Recovery Voices From Hurricane Dorian It was held on May 19^th, 2021. The Honorable Adrian Gibson (Executive Chairman, The Barbados Water and Sewerage Corporation), said that to date the damage from Hurricane Dorian is valued at 3.4 billion.

“This was a grand disaster in the history of the Bahamas resulting in at least seventy-seven recorded deaths, with some still missing and the question recording the true number of missing among our large patient immigrant communities. Thousands of homes destroyed, businesses displaced, and many thousands displaced and total damage of some 3.4 billion USD,” he said.

Gibson gave a brief report of the challenges the water and sewage ministry faced in the first two months after the all clear was given on September 5^th, 2019.

“Challenges faced during this period included staffing. As I outlined previously, due to the severity of the damage, many of our Abaco staff had to be relocated to New Providence as this meant that we had to fly in other temporary staff from other islands for short durations.

The other challenge was housing. In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, it was very challenging to find suitable housing for our temporary staff. Our first waves of post-storm personnel had to use our generators and non-damaged apartments we were able to source with some having to sleep in our offices.

Another challenge was transportation as with no stores open, all of our supplies had to be moved by air or sea with others competing for those same supplies and logistical routes. Many of our vehicles had storm-related damage and it was difficult to locate rental vehicles as many were destroyed and or damaged. Communication also posed another challenge.”

The Member of Parliament for Long Island said that the overall initial damage to the Water and Sewage system is estimated to cost between 15-20M USD and that the amount has since increased by a further 13-15M USD.

Gibson said that the country is still seeking to rebuild two years post-Hurricane Dorian and that they have had recent challenges with their rebuilding exercise as they had some stoppages due to the onset of COVID-19.

“The principal challenge during this challenge – in addition to those outlined – was the onset of the global pandemic in March 2020, and its impact on national and global finances, commerce, movement and supply chains. National priorities have to be realigned to match the national fall of Government revenue and the [significant] increase in our social systems.”

Moreover, he noted that the combined effect of Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 resulted in an 80% decline in the amount of cash donations they received, which was the second-largest revenue source after New Providence.

The Executive Chairman of the Barbados Water and Sewerage Corporation said that one of the initiatives of the Bahamas Water and Sewerage Corporation was to ensure that the potable water systems in his country could withstand 200 MPH.

“All sewage systems in Abaco must be built stronger. Some of the initiatives implemented include that all new portable storage tanks must be designed to take 200 MPH winds when empty. All new buildings must be elevated. New standby generators must be installed on elevated cliffs. Water mains along coastal roads must be installed on the opposite end of the roadway. Each standby generator must have a minimum of five days of fuel stored.”

Gibson was one of the panelists on a panel discussion which included Dr. Ancilleno Davis who is the Principal and CEO of Science and Perspective and Head of Mission, Embassy of Barbados Caracas Commander Aquinas Clarke. The panel discussions are held quarterly.