Scores of residents from the Family Islands have been transported to the capital as a precaution due to the expected severity of Hurricane Matthew.

NEMA officials made that revelation yesterday at an emergency press conference held by Prime Minister Perry Christie at the Cabinet Office.

Mr. Christie added that while the government does not want to make these evacuations mandatory, the safety of these residents is of the utmost importance.

Beginning with Long Island, which was vastly devastated by Hurricane Joaquin last year.

“In Long Island we urged the admininistrator to move affected persons from those areas that our experience tells us can be flooded and moved them.

“We try not to put in mandatory evacuations and we try to persuade Bahamians to be aware of the need to protect themselves and their families.

“Obviously, if it comes to requiring them to do mandatory evacuations, we would make those decisions but as of now we are urging all Bahamians to take maximum safety precautions for yourselves and your families.

“It costs the government a great deal to go in hazardous situations to rescue people and we’re trying to avoid that,” Mr. Christie said.

On Sunday, the Journal spoke with Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, who said that her constituents were terrified of the upcoming storm, with their fears being exacerbated by the amount of infrastructural repairs that still need to be completed on the island.

In a press conference held last Friday, the National Emergency Agency Management revealed they spent over $100 million on infrastructural repairs islands affected by Hurricane Joaquin.

They also stated that repairs were done on 117 homes in Long Island.

In October of last year, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that one in every 10 homes it had assessed was “completely destroyed”.

Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell said other islands that have been evacuated ahead of the storm.

“In reference to the evacuation flights, Exuma is being used as a hub for those persons coming from Acklins and Crooked Island.

“We have a flight scheduled for Long Island for 5:00 p.m. to bring those persons out of that island who need to come out at this time. A jet was put on for 6:00 p.m. to bring those persons from Exuma to Nassau,” he said.

“We are trying to evacuate those vulnerable persons who need to get out those districts at this time.”

Hurricane Matthew, at last report was Category 4 hurricane that is expected to bring 115 mph winds and up to 25 inches of rain.

The storm has already killed three people.