NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The following is the latest assessment,
as of 8:30 p.m. EDT, on October 2, 2105, provided by the National Emergency Management Agency,
in co-ordination with local government officials from islands affected by
Hurricane Joaquin:
In Rum
Cay, it is reported that 32 persons were seeking shelter in the clinic, and
they are anticipating an increase in that number. At the time of the report, the island was
said to be experiencing heavy rains with limited visibility, winds estimated at 90-100 mph, and heavy
flooding. Trees were down, roads
impassable, lines and poles were down, dock reportedly destroyed, airport
flooded and personal homes were beginning to cave in. There was no electricity.
In
Acklins, Administrator Mr. Harvey Roberts reported that he encountered flooding in certain, specifically in Snug
Corner and Mason’s Bay. Five houses were
destroyed in Mason’s Bay, and four in Snug Corner; but there were no injuries
to report and all residents were accounted for in the visited settlements.
According
to information obtained by the Red Cross, Long Island had no electricity,
private wells were reportedly contaminated, roads were impassable, and there
was complete structural damages to many homes.
Inspector Rodgers added that the northern part of island appeared to be
under four (4) feet of water and that he had to leave station and move to higher
ground.
Mr. Paul
Turnquest reported that, in San Salvador, 36 people were sheltered at the
Research Center, 32 people at the Odell Jones Center, and 4 people at St. James
Native Center.
The roof
of the Zion Baptist Church shelter was blown off, doors off and water was
coming in, with 14 children and 15 adults.
The sheltered persons were advised to relocate to a portion of the
building with a roof remaining. Winds were reported at 130-150 mph, with
flooding throughout the island, and the island was expected to lose
communications by 5pm, as the BTC generator was reportedly going down.
At 3: 46
pm. Mr. Jermaine Johnson, Tourism representative, was attempting to move the shelterees from
Zion Baptist Church. NEMA is awaiting
confirmation as to where they are relocated.
In Harbour
Island and North Eleuthera Administrator Mr. Jolton Johnson reported that 21 people
were in shelters in Harbour Island and 10 people were in shelters in North
Eleuthera. While in Central and South
Eleuthera, the shelters there were reporting 71 occupants.
Mayaguana
is reporting that the wind has settled, with not much damage to structures
other than loss of roof shingles; communications is still available.
In
Mangrove Cay, Administrator Mr. Glenn Lightbourne reported that two shelters
activated, with one occupant. Winds were normal with overcast skies. Communications
and power were still available.
In Exuma,
shelters were activated with two occupants.
Electricity and communication were still available.
On Cat
Island, Sgt. Preston McCoy said that shelters activated, with nine (9)
occupants; while on San Salvador, shelters were activated with 48 people. That island was experiencing winds reported
at 130-140 mph.
Attempts are still being made to contact Crooked Island.
All of the
relevant government and non-governmental agencies, including the Bahamas Red
Cross and US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), of The Bahamas are
standing by to do a rapid assessment as soon as the weather permits and NEMA
will be advising the public on an ongoing basis as to all efforts to bring
relief to the affected areas.