The National Emergency Management Agency received more than a quarter of a million dollars from the Gaming House Operators Association towards Hurricane Joaquin relief efforts on Tuesday.

The total of $257,552.05 was presented during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on Cable Beach. Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed that members of the gaming association notified him that they wanted make such a donation in the aftermath of the category four storm, which left massive devastation in the Central and Southeast Bahamas.

Accepting the funds was Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell. Representing the association were Chances, FLM, A Sure Win, Island Luck, Percy’s at The Island Game, Asue Draw, Bahama Dreams, Bet Vegas, and Paradise Games.

The prime minister also said that the association wants to continue to improve the lives of the estimated 5,000 people impacted by the hurricane particularly on the islands of Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay.

The government would assemble a reconstruction team headed by the former Director of Public Works Melanie Roach. This team would restore normalcy to those communities impacted by the storm, the prime minister said.

He also noted that assistance is being given through international means.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force is setting up camps to ensure the protection of hurricane relief supplies and their orderly distribution, and to perform other duties they are called upon to do.

A desalination plant is being built at Landrail Point, Crooked Island to restore water to that community.

The prime minister also revealed that in his discussions with Sebas Bastian, CEO of Island Luck, Mr. Bastian indicated his wish to obtain portable homes, of which “there is an acute need,” said the prime minister — to assist residents who lost their homes or were unable to live in them due to extensive damage.