While Florida mostly avoided the dangerous effects of Hurricane Dorian, the storm battered the Bahamas throughout Labor Day weekend. The slow-moving 185 mph category five hurricane created storm surges across the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands on Sept. 1-2; causing flooding, mass power outages and more life-threatening damages.
“The Abaco Islands are in ruins. Everyone was supposed to evacuate, and things are underwater,” explained Tamula Turnquest, a junior biology major, vice president of the Black-American Forum and secretary of CSA. “In Grand Bahama, the airport in Freeport… there was a lot of destruction. People lost their homes, they don’t have the means that they need, hospitals are trying to get people to donate blood and get supplies for anyone that needs assistance on the island.”
“We are used to storms, this is no surprise to us. However, the impact was really great. Hurricane Dorian decided to just park over my beautiful island…” said Aaliyah Rigby, a junior political science major and an international student from Grand Bahama. “They’re in need of water, toiletries and groceries. Actually, most of the grocery stores at home are underwater. There’s a lot of things that just can’t be used.”
Rigby also mentioned that some Bahamians are in need of medical attention, as many people on Grand Bahama require dialysis. With kidney centers and hospitals functioning at a lower than normal capacity, people have been flown to other countries by the U.S. Coast Guard to get treatment.
Despite NSU’s Fort Lauderdale campus being safe from the storm, Sharks are still doing their part to help those in need of aid. The Caribbean Student Association (CSA) is hosting a Hurricane Relief for the Bahamas drive in partnership with the Black-American Forum. Students are encouraged to donate bottled water, non-perishable foods, first aid kits, medications, flashlights and other emergency supplies at the collection bin by the Campus Life Office in the University Center.
“Dorian didn’t hit us, we bought a bunch of [supplies] and a lot of people were like, ‘well I bought all this food, what am I going to do with it?’ — Give back,” said Turnquest.
Rigby is planning on purchasing cases of water, baby supplies, food and other needed supplies in efforts to help those affected by the storm. While Rigby is from Grand Bahama, she is making sure donations also get distributed to Abaco as well.
“Being an international student, NSU literally is my home, like my home away from home. You guys are my family, so seeing these people caring as much as my family really would have makes me so happy,” said Rigby.
Dominique Brown, a junior behavioral neuroscience major and president of the Black- American Forum, also encouraged students to reach out to their friends who may have been affected by the storm.
“Not only [participate in the drive and collections], be there for them— period. They have family, friends, everything. Imagine losing your childhood home and the place that you call home. It’s completely underwater, everything’s washed out, nothing is there anymore. Be there for them. At the end of the day, you have somewhere to call home and they really don’t now,” said Brown.
Synergy Shipping will be taking the supplies collected at NSU from CSA to the Bahamas, while Rigby will be using Fowlco to distribute to the Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands. The drive began Sept. 4, and will last indefinitely. More information about supplies needed for the drive can be found on CSA’s Instagram, @nsucsa
