The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced yesterday that 3,500 residents affected by Hurricane Dorian were evacuated.
The majority of the evacuees are from Abaco.
According to NEMA, upon arrival in New Providence, the evacuees are processed at Odyssey Aviation and then taken to family or friends, or sent to a shelter.
NEMA spokesperson Carl Smith provided the evacuation update at a press conference yesterday, where he also announced that as of 10 a.m. on Sunday, a total 860 persons were placed in shelters.
According to Smith, the shelter at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium has 422 evacuees, the Fox Hill Community Center has 202, Calvary Baptist Church has 91, the Salvation Army has 50 and Pilgrim Baptist Church has 95.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) assisted with the evacuation and noted in a statement that “a total of 93 persons were brought into the capital early Sunday morning”.
The latest group of displaced residents arrived on the RBDF’s auxiliary craft HMBS Lawrence Major shortly after 6:00 a.m.
“Relatives and loved ones were on hand to meet them,” the RBDF statement read.
“The Royal Bahamas Defence Force continues to work along with local and international agencies on the island of Abaco in the ongoing search, recovery and relief efforts.”
Death Toll
On Sunday, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) announced that the Hurricane Dorian death toll increased to 45, with 37 bodies located and recovered in Abaco and eight in Grand Bahama.
“We anticipate the discovery of more bodies as the process of search and recovery progresses,” a RBPF statement said.
“There are many more persons presumed missing and we are appealing to the public to file Missing Persons reports, with the police, of those persons who have not been seen since the passage of Hurricane Dorian.
“We offer condolences to those families who have had loved ones die during the storm. And every effort is being made along with our local and international law enforcement partners to bring closure.”
On Friday, following a Cabinet meeting, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that the death toll climbed to 43.
“We acknowledge that there are many missing and that the number of deaths is expected to significantly increase,” Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said.
“This is one of the stark realities we are facing in this hour of darkness.
“The loss of life we are experiencing is catastrophic and devastating. The grief we will bear as a country begins with the families who have lost loved ones. We will meet them in this time of sorrow with open arms and walk by their sides every step of the way.
“To those who have lost loved ones, I know there is absolutely nothing we can say that will lessen your pain and loss. We offer you our shoulders to cry on, our prayers of comfort and our promise that your loved ones will never be forgotten.”
