We Endure.

As the people of an island nation, Bahamians know all too well that as climate change drives extreme weather patterns, hurricanes are hitting this part of the world with greater intensity and frequency. The people of The Bahamas, and those of the Northern Bahamas in particular, are especially aware of the effects of these realities.

Grand Bahama, the northernmost of the islands of The Bahamas, has faced more devastating hurricanes within the last two decades, than it had in the preceding 200 years. In 1999, Floyd’s storm surge flooded them. In 2004, Frances hovered over them for more than a day. Just weeks later, Jeanne was on her way. They were so happy when she passed over—but then sat powerless, as she doubled back. In 2005, Katrina was a breeze, but then came Wilma, which destroyed 200 homes and left 1,500 people homeless. Yet, they built again. In 2016, came Matthew, with its interior tornadoes that leveled entire communities, leaving few homes without the shelter of those signature blue tarps.

Then Came Dorian. 

Category 5 Hurricane Dorian inflicted unimaginable losses on the people of the Northern Bahamas. As one of the strongest hurricanes on modern record, the storm’s unbelievably slow trek across the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island battered its residents for two days. The toll of its devastation on the built environment is amplified by the fact that Grand Bahama suffered the wrath of nearly a dozen other hurricanes in the 20 years since 1999. Hurricane Dorian’s damage amounted to at least $3.4 billion. In addition to leaving 70,000 people homeless, an estimated 13,000 homes—constituting 45% of the homes on the Abacos and Grand Bahama—suffered severe damage or were completely destroyed. Sadder, still, was the loss of life. There were at least 70 deaths reported to date in the country. Many also remain missing. They too are believed to have perished in Hurricane Dorian.