Hurricane Dorian has devastated the Bahamas. Multiple media outlets are reporting five people were killed by Hurricane Dorian, which had wind gusts of up to 220 mph and maintained speeds of 165 mph while stalling over the nation’s Grand Bahama Island. Bahamas Press is reporting most of Grand Bahama Island is underwater. Aerial footage shows the total devastation suffered by the Bahamas:
It is also being reported the number of missing Bahamians is rising, specifically in Abaco islands, which lie in the northern Bahamas, 180 miles off the South Florida coast.
According to The Guardian, Red Cross spokesman Matthew Cochrane said more than 13,000 houses, or about 45% of the homes on Grand Bahama and Abaco, were believed to have been severely damaged or destroyed. U.N. officials said more than 60,000 people on the hard-hit islands will need food, and the Red Cross said some 62,000 will need clean drinking water.
Hurricane Dorian is barreling towards the United States with parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia being evacuated. All five governors (Ralph Northern – VA, Roy Cooper – NC, Henry McMaster – SC, Brian Kemp – GA and Rick Scott – FL) declared states of emergencies ahead of landfall. 12,000 people are currently in evacuation shelters in preparation for the Hurricane.
If you live in an evacuation zone, please evacuate if at all possible. Go to the highest possible point you can reach. Check out this Hurricane Survival Guide for additional information.
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