Emergency Response to Hurricane Dorian

William always believed his home of McLeans Town was paradise. “We lived here and we couldn’t believe how beautiful it was,” William says, reflecting on the small community on the northwest corner of Grand Bahama island. The image that William describes, one of soft sand being gently tugged by ocean waves on a backdrop of a cloudless sky, seems negligible in the face of Hurricane Dorian’s complete devastation. The Category 5 storm hit the Bahamas with winds of 185 mph, gusts up to 220 mph, and storm surges reaching 23 feet. Like most residents, William fled town before the September 1^st storm, but he came back to survey the damage done to his home and his community. The town William returned to was not the one he remembered; instead McLeans Town bares the wrath of Dorian. The towering trees are scoured on the floor or on top of crumbling homes. There is a thick layer of oil from destroyed storage tanks covering miles of plants and animals. And then there is William and his fellow Bahamians, all trying to sort through the rubble for memories, resources, and most of all looking for those who may still be trapped underneath all of the wreckage.

Mcleans Town is not alone in their devastation. According to the Government of the Bahamas, the hurricane affected more than 76,000 people especially in Abaco and Grand Bahama. International Medical Corps moved quickly in light of the emergency, and with the help of GlobalGiving, has been able to provide access to healthcare, safe water, improved hygiene, and mental health support to the most devastated areas.

Within 72 hours, International Medical Corps had set up an emergency medical facility in High Rock, an eastern part of Grand Bahama island. The previous clinic, which was destroyed in the storm, served more than 3,000 people. Along with deploying 100 doctors, staff and nurses to provide patient consolations, International Medical Corps has also delivered 15,200lbs of medication and equipment which have been used to restock pharmacies and fill critical gaps in medication. International Medical Corps recognizes not only the physical toll of the hurricane, but also the mental distress. In order to meet the needs of residents experiencing a wide range of psychosocial needs International Medical Corps has provided some 1,000 people with mental health and psychosocial support services and raised awareness for about 11,280 people on self-care.

Hurricane Dorian’s devastation has shaken every aspect of Bahamian life. Despite coping with their new, warped reality, William and his community are hopeful they will see paradise again. “Come back and you’ll see…” he says, surveying the damage with a cracked smile. “We’ll rebuild.”

International Medical Corps thanks GlobalGiving and other donors for their critical support as we continue to respond to the Hurricane Dorian crisis. Today, we not only address the recovery needs following the storm, but also the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Bahamas.