Freeport, Bahamas - From the Office of the Minister For Grand Bahama:
Hurricane
Matthew aggressively moved throughout Grand Bahama Island on Thursday, October
7th, 2016, with hurricane force winds in excess of 150 mph; damaging
much of the residences and infrastructure on the southern shoreline, from East
to West End. The storm brought Grand Bahama Island to a standstill, crippling
business and commerce, with devastation impacting the daily lives of all
residents. The level of damage is severe, and the impact to the livelihood of
the people remains a serious challenge.
Actions taken following Hurricane Matthew:
1.1
Social Service
This department is
providing accommodations for seventy one (71) displaced residents left in
shelters, the majority of which are from the West Grand Bahama including the Pinder's
Point and Lewis yard area. Counseling services are in place for the residents.
Preliminary
reports indicate that 525 social assessments were completed to date:
SETTLEMENTS |
AMOUNT |
MINOR |
MAJOR |
DESTROYED |
West End |
153 |
64 |
54 |
26 |
Sea Grape |
67 |
39 |
27 |
0 |
Lewis Yard |
33 |
16 |
9 |
8 |
Pinder's Point |
9 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
Hunters |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Mack Town |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Hepburn Town |
30 |
10 |
16 |
1 |
Hanna Hill |
32 |
16 |
11 |
0 |
Martin Town |
21 |
10 |
11 |
0 |
Russell Town |
25 |
15 |
10 |
0 |
Holmes Rock |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Jones Town |
72 |
19 |
39 |
5 |
Pinedale |
71 |
41 |
24 |
0 |
Pine Forest |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
Deadman's Reef |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
TOTALS |
525 |
235 |
213 |
44 |
This work will
continue, with added trained field workers from New Providence joining the
Social Services teams in Grand Bahama.
1.2 Urban Renewal 2.0.
Urban Renewal is also
working within the communities offering
assistance with
food and humanitarian aid as the case may be.
2.1 Health Services
The
Rand Memorial Hospital is fully operational with full power, with all essential
services restored. The High Rock and McClean's Town Clinics in East Grand
Bahama are open and services restored.
The
temporary clinic at West End was compromised as a result of flooding but has
since been reopened in another location in West End.
The
Eight Mile Rock Clinic will continue its regular operations, inclusive of
extended clinic hours and will assume responsibility for services in the West
End community as well.
2.2 Environmental Health
The
Department of Environmental Health Services has increased its surveillance in
most vulnerable areas, and is providing updates to the Grand Bahama communities
on a regular basis. Cleanup crews have been working within the various
settlements to ensure that standing bodies of water is treated and garbage and
disaster generated debris are collected and disposed of properly.
3.1. Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC)
The
Grand Bahama Utility Company has commenced restoring supply to its customers. 2
of the 6 major well fields have been brought back online and regular potable
water supply has been connected to 80%+/- of the City of Freeport. Water supply
in East Grand Bahama was uninterrupted throughout the Hurricane as the High
Rock Well Fields stayed operational.
Limited potable water supply is currently being pumped to substations in West
Grand Bahama, providing potable water to residents in Eight Mile Rock to West
End. GBUC is currently working on repairing ruptured mains in the western end
of the island to quickly restore full supply to the respective communities, and
will continue to restore water supply, in a phased manner, over the next few
days and weeks, as damaged infrastructure is repaired.
4.1 Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC)
The
Grand Bahama Power Company has moved with haste to replace fallen poles and
repair transmission and distribution infrastructure, and as of Wednesday
October 12th, 2016, power has been restored to some 4,000+ customers with
increasingly more homes and businesses being reconnected to the power grid in
the City of Freeport.
The
company is currently being assisted by its international partners and
accordingly, 200 additional support staff and 100 additional emergency repair
vehicles to supplement its on-island workforce have arrived in Grand Bahama.
5.1
Tourism Infrastructure
The majority of
hotels suffered major roof and/or infrastructural damage including: Grand
Lucayan Hotel, Lighthouse Point Resort, Memories Resort & Casino, Pelican
Bay Hotel, Castaways Hotel, Island Seas Resort and Old Bahama Bay. Presently,
Pelican Bay Hotel has resumed business and the Lighthouse Point is proposing
Monday October 24th, 2016, as their
re-opening date. All other properties are having repairs done.
6.1
Educational Infrastructure
All of the schools
on the island were damaged. Water has been restored,
electricity to follow. A detailed assessment is being done with cleanup
and
remedial restoration. A projected opening date of Wednesday October 19th,
2016, is
realistic, albeit with limited services.
7.1 Grand Bahama Airport/Seaport Facilities
The
airport is open for emergency and domestic flights only. The domestic terminal,
as well as the international terminal/United States pre-clearance facility,
experienced roof damages. Re-commissioning will follow the restoration of power
and water; as well as the full operation of all navigational equipment. The
Seaport is open for emergency cargo services only and other limited services.
The
Freeport Container Port is experiencing some challenges and will, in time,
return to normalcy.
8.1 Government
Buildings & Assets
Detailed technical
inspections are ongoing at all government buildings by the Ministry of Works
& Urban Development since they were all impacted in one way or another.
Most services to the public are limited and will increase over the next several
weeks as essential services are returned to normalcy.
9.1
Public Safety
The Royal Bahama
Police Force has kept a firm hand on the anti-social habits of some since the
storm. While many petty complaints were reported, law and order remains in
place.
10.1
Relief Supplies (Short Term/Medium Term Measures)
To date, many
humanitarian gestures from businesses, individuals and service organizations
have reached the various communities. The Bahamas Red Cross Society, Rotary
Clubs and other service clubs as well as churches and civic groups, have moved
throughout the communities with some supplies bringing much needed relief to
many.
10.2
Sundry Supplies
The need for
sundry supplies is great. It is expected that the Government through NEMA
provide the following in the short-term:
A.
10
Pallets Drinking Water
B.
5000
Boxes Tarpaulin/Plastic Roof Covering
C.
Plywood
D.
Shingles
& Other Supporting Materials
E.
Food
Supplies/Canned Goods for hot daily meals where water and electricity are not
available (i.e. West End, Eight Mile Rock, Lewis Yard)
F.
Personal
Hygiene Supplies
A/C/D/E should be
remitted on a regular basis.
10.3
Home Repairs
Minor house
repairs would commence in the medium-term, with support given to residents
requiring:
§
Materials only or
§
assistance through the Exigency Order
A tracking system
will be put in place for all relief assistance offered.
Some major repairs
should commence soon as well
10.4
Short to Long Term Measures
Shelter for those
who lost their residential homes would be given priority. Based on lessons
learned from Hurricanes Francis and Jeanne in 2005/2005, immediate attention to
secure land in or near West End where over twenty nine (29) homes were
destroyed.
New construction
techniques would be employed through the Ministry of Works & Urban Development
for safe homes, which can be constructed
in 60 days or less, at a cost not
exceeding $50,000.00 (+/-) depending on various social needs.
Those receiving
homes should be made to enter into a rent-to-own agreement with the Ministry of
Housing and the Environment (Department of Housing).