In advance of the storm, persons living on the southern coasts of New Providence were strongly urged by authorities to evacuate to more inland places . They were advised to hunker down with friends and family or to move to the specially designated
shelters.
Most folks made serious preparation for this major storm. Matthew brought very strong winds which toppled many large trees, tearing them whole from the ground and shredding their foliage. Shingles and other roofing materials littered the streets in the
aftermath. Tangles of electrical wires drooped from trees and stumps of broken utility poles point skyward.
Unfortunately some folks in the anticipated coastal flood zones did not decide to move out and were forced to deal with rising flood waters as the storm reached maximum frenzy. Rescue teams were dispatched as soon as they could safely move.
There was widespread damage to homes and businesses due to extensive coastal flooding as well as the high speed winds. Several families in southern New Providence lost their homes.
Fortunately no loss of life has been recorded for New Providence.
Bahamas Power and Light has begun the huge task of restoring power to the island. Many are happy to have supplies restored. Others will have to wait longer as more complex repairs are made.
Road clearing by government and community teams has already begun but there is much to do in the days and weeks ahead.
Give thanks and praise for life after Hurricane Matthew.
NINE Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessels are departing Key West and returning to the Bahamas with relief supplies donated by Florida Keys residents and businesses for victims of Hurricane Matthew. The Bahamas Power & Light Company (BPL) has begun restoring
power to parts of New Providence, but warns it could take days "or even longer" before power is restored to all customers on the island. Grand Bahama has suffered significant damage.
First let me say that I am not on island. My news is from phone calls to friends and facebook....God bless the internet. I think I can safely say that Hurricane Matthew ws the strongest and most devastating storm that Grand Bahama has experienced in recent history. Everyone I have talked to has said it was worse than Frances and Gene in 2004 . The western end of the island flooded being our lowest elevation and a few other communities heading east. The anticipated 12 ft storm surge did not materialize saving countless homes from water damage but, the wind damage was terrible. Power lines and trees are down island wide. Several roofs are off. Homes not built to code sustained the most damage. A tornado touched down in Lucaya ripping off roofs in its path.Most of our Hurricanes have come over our north shore which is mostly uninhabited. We all live along the south shore so this was a big reason for so much damage.
Many thanks to the Grand Bahama Police whom I have been told were out in the storm all night tending to emergencies and to the Power company that will be working very hard from now on. We will rebuild and carry on.
- Conch shells bought from the sea to land
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2016 19:22:32 -0400
Sent from my iPhone
- Trees down
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2016 19:21:16 -0400
Sent from my iPhone
- Docks floating in the sea
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2016 19:20:35 -0400
Sent from my iPhone
- After the storm the sun came out
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2016 19:19:38 -0400
Good evening
We weathered the storm and the island does not look the same
Lots and lots of tree damage flooding and still some roads which are impassable
Despite this we are thankful it is a time when Neighbors are helping each other
with the clean up process
The worst part is the heat and no electricity
Thank you out there for all your prayers I will send some photos
God bless
Angela
Sent from my iPhone
- Mathew
By Keith Bishop <keith at islandsbydesign.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2016 19:13:07 +0000
As of 3pm Abaco 95% restored with utilities
Sent from my iPad
- Mathew
By Keith Bishop <keithbish at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 18:40:10 -0400
630 Thursday evening
Glad to report Abaco faired very well . Still experiencing tropical storm force
winds but very little rain
- San Salvador Bahamas
By Sandra Pitt <romperpitt at yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 15:30:31 +0000 (UTC)
Well glad to inform all we survived Had High wind But hardly any rain the south end. Lost power so could not post last night.
All utilities up & running again so far found no significant damage. Hopefully the rest of the Bahamas stays safe & sound wishing them well .
Sandra Pitt .
- Trees down
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 11:11:01 -0400
Trees are down
Sent from my iPhone
- Walls down extensive flooding
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 10:56:18 -0400
We are currently being battered
Sent from my iPhone
- Flooding New Providence
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 10:32:54 -0400
This is on west tip of island
Sent from my iPhone
- It is here
By Angela Culmer <>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 07:40:52 -0400
View from garden
It is really windy
Attachment:
IMG_0761.MOV Description: QuickTime movie
- Matthew is here
By Angela Culmer <>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 06:11:19 -0400
Good morning
All we can hear is the wind
It is pitch black so far so good
Of course no power the winds are loud and very heavy
Looking forward to saying good bye to Matthew
Can hear some items blowing around
More later
- Gray's, Long Island Bahamas
By Esther Wells <estherw01 at yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2016 05:03:15 -0400
All is well!
Had minimal effects from this storm in Long Island. Now enjoying the gentle
breeze.
Praying for the rest of The Bahamas.
Please be safe!
Sent from my iPhone
- 12pm Nassau
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 23:55:31 -0400
Hi
Breezy outside lost power at 10 pm
Managing to rest
Continuing to pray
Some people still have power very jealous
Not too uncomfortable yet
Will update in a few hours
Sent from my iPhone
- Abaco
By <ms.abacom at yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 22:20:21 +0000 (UTC)
Just experienced some heavy rain and winds at 10-20mph from the upper band of Matthew. Gone calm now though with very overcast skies. Still have power though expecting that to go out as storm approaches closer. Concerned about possible surge though as we face south, even if we only get the edge of the winds and rain.
Malcolm Spicer,
- Gray's, Long Island, Bahamas
By Esther Wells <estherw01 at yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 18:26:01 -0400
Winds have picked up, gusting about 80 mph with some rain.
However, we are still sitting outside with the door open.
Sent from my iPhone
- Outer bands
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 15:38:09 -0400
Here is a video of the rain
It has begun
Not much wind more rain
Attachment:
IMG_0751.MOV Description: QuickTime movie
Sent from my iPhone
- Gray's, Long Island Bahamas
By Esther Wells <estherw01 at yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 13:31:45 -0400
Overcast, but still hot and somewhat sunny. Absolutely no rain as yet.
Very breezy, with gusts up to 60mph.
Sent from my iPhone
- Abaco Bahamas
By Keith Bishop <keith at islandsbydesign.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 16:58:03 +0000
About 30 hours away , slightly overcast some light rain wind less than 5mph.
Most have taken this very seriously .
Sent from my iPad
- Nassau
By Angela Culmer <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 12:19:37 -0400
We are at home waiting my husband and son are helping some people with shutters
as we speak
We are praying all is well and waiting for the heavy squalls
Will post as often as I can
It is an overcast day with rain at the moment
Sent from my iPhone
- San Salvador
By Sandra Pitt <romperpitt at yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 15:55:04 +0000 (UTC)
The winds are Picking up & the Ocean very rough at Southern end of Island did check on my house & all well so far. Still have all utilities hopefully for a while. Not had much rain at all !!!! Sandra Pitt.
Wishing everyone in Bahamas Good Luck .
- San Salvador Bahamas
By Sandra Pitt <romperpitt at yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2016 11:54:02 +0000 (UTC)
Good Morning still very calm south end of the island no rain as yet . Calm before the storm as we know will get more later. Please all take care in the Bahamas as Matthew travels through the Islands . Sandra Pitt
- Nassau
By Angela <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2016 20:16:42 -0400
Good Evening
We are getting more anxious and apprehensive.
All preparations have been made we are battened up and have bought all
necessary provisions.
We are glued to all of the updates and are grateful for the planes that fly
into the hurricane.
We are regularly briefed by our local government who have actively researched
low lying areas so that as much as possible we can be safe.
Will keep you updated as much as possible thank you for the prayers
Sent from my iPad
- Matthew
By Sandra Pitt <romperpitt at yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2016 09:39:24 +0000 (UTC)
Still unbelievably calm in San Sal not even any Rain. Just a few Gusts of wind starting The Track seems to be moving slightly away from us .
Everyone Take care always a calm before a storm.
Sandra Pitt.
- Gray's, Long Island Bahamas
By Esther Wells <estherw01 at yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2016 04:01:28 -0400
Good Morning,
Expecting the worse, while preparing frantically for Matthew.
Residents are very wary after that awful experience with Joaquin. So, shutters up, important papers secured, gas stations busy and food stores bustling.
Many of the elderly are being moved to higher ground, and others have left the island already.
Praying Matthew passes quickly.
This is a picture of my neighborhood taken after the last hurricane.
Greetings All. As we watch news report about the strong hurricane Matthew, folks are taking the threat VERY seriously. Gas stations, food stores, pharmacies, water depots and hardware stores parking lots have been packed as we prepare to protect our families
and property.
Right now the air is quiet . The seas are gently rolling. Soon it will be time to hunker down and to continue to pray for ourselves and our brothers and sisters who are already in the path of Matthew.
- Matthew
By Angela <angelaculmer at gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2016 17:11:42 -0400
Every day we see changes in the path of Matthew,the fishing boats are in port.
preparations are underway.
The gas stations are busy the stores are busy water depots are full of lines
We are anxious, praying and watching
The shutters are up at the moment it is a beautiful day in Paradise.
God bless everyone.
Angela
Sent from my iPad
- Guana Cay Abaco
By Michie Ruiz <michieruiz at icloud.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2016 14:19:32 -0400
House is boarded up and prayer for the least amount of wind damage
Michelle
- Abaco
By ms.abacom at yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2016 19:00:11 +0000 (UTC)
Here on Abaco Island everyone preparing. Shutters going up. Stores very busy.
Everyone taking the storm very seriously. Latest advisory has it coming right
over us but praying it moves more easterly and out into the ocean. Beautiful day
otherwise.
Â
Malcolm Spicer,
- Hurricane Matthew
By Sandra Pitt <romperpitt at yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2016 17:40:33 +0000 (UTC)
Hi this Is Sandra Pitt in San Salvador Bahamas All is calm so far & people are preparing for the Worst was only a year ago we were hit very badly & a lot not repaired . Will keep posting as long as Possible at the Moment Under Hurricane Watch imagine tomorrow we will feel more
Fingers Crossed for all in it's path Sandra .
- Battening Down The 'Atches
By "Kimberly King-Burns" <kkingburns at convergenz.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2016 10:13:35 -0700
The entire archipelago continues its careful monitoring of Matthew’s path, and is finalizing its storm prep and hurricane shelter network. The government chartered a Bahamasair jet this weekend to pick up stranded college students in Jamaica, and is planning a similar run to pick up elderly, physically-challenged and younger residents of the southern islands later today. Cell phone chargers, supplies of water, and kerosene lanterns are at the ready, as the Bahamas watches the storm’s passage over Hispaniola and Cuba.
At this moment we continue to watch and wait. When visiting the food store
today there was a complaint that there no more five gallon bottles of water
available. I did see one gallon bottles all of the bread had been sold and the
shelf was empty.
Some storm shutters are up and we intend to put ours up on Tuesday.
The water stations situated on main streets are closed because they have sold
out.
We pray for those in Cuba and Haiti and monitor the storm closely.
Angela
Sent from my iPad
Good Evening
We are anxiously watching and waiting .Preparations are underway the food stores, weather stations and lumber yards are very busy
This is a strong hurricane and it needs to be taken seriously
Angela
Sent from my iPad
- San Salvador Bahamas
By Sandra Pitt <romperpitt at yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2016 01:04:54 +0000 (UTC)
Good evening we are watching closely as was one year ago we were devastated. Sandra Pitt
