Outpouring of Relief Supplies For The Bahamas – ‘ Simply Amazing’

Bermuda residents heard the call and in two words, the outpouring of support in relief supplies for the hurricane stricken residents of the Bahamas on Saturday was “simply amazing”.

National Security Minister Wayne Caines said: “Today (Saturday) we saw the best of Bermuda!”

The end result – Bermuda had reached the 200 tonne goal set for non-perishable relief supplies to be loaded onto the HMS Protector, which is due to set out for the Bahamas on Monday.

No goods will be accepted at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on King Street today.

Volunteers “finished boxing and putting supplies on pellets last night”. But “more boxes and volunteers are needed today”.

The Minister will host a news conference at 2pm today (Sunday) on board the Royal Navy HMS Protector which is moored in Hamilton Harbour alongside Front Street.    

A host of volunteers pitched in on Saturday to handle the steady flow of residents bringing supplies. By the end of the day, the church hall was filled, in response to the catastrophic trail of destruction left by Hurricane Dorian.

The storm lashed the Bahamas as a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds at 185 mph with gusts over 200 mph.

The death toll in this “humanitarian crisis” now stands at 43 and expected to continue to rise as hundreds remain missing.

International relief efforts include “volunteers with search dogs”, and massive plans to provide food and shelter to some 70,000 residents left homeless in the wake of this “monster storm”.

Volunteers are still needed to help pack boxes and move supplies to be loaded in time for the ship’s departure tomorrow.

Organisers were on location at the church hall as of 8am this morning and will be there until 4pm today.

“We need boxes and volunteers,” said Mr Caines.

“We will have to send a good portion of the items to the Bahamas later via container ship. (TBC/TBA).

“Thank- you to everyone who donated. We love and appreciate each of you.”

Meanwhile, Belco crews are on standby to join in to help restore power.

Speaking at a news conference last week, the Minister also stated that a team “will coordinate further donation efforts from the Ministry of National Security and must be contacted via email at EMOGroup@gov.bm, or via text only to 441-501-0380″.

“If you wish to make monetary donations, they can be made to the following organizations:

1. We Care Project by direct deposit. The banking details are: BNTB Bank Account No. 060 1640520 014
2. Bermuda Red Cross Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund by: Direct Deposit to the Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund. The Banking details are – BNTB Bank Account No. 20 006 060 365472 200, Clarien Bank Account No: 4010035760, Calling the Bermuda Red Cross at 236-8253 and providing debit or credit card details and donation amount, Visiting their offices or sending donations by mail to: Bermuda Red Cross, Hurricane Dorian Disaster Relief Appeal, Charleswood, 9 Berry Hill Road, Paget DV 03

• Feature Photo: Courtesy of Bermuda Memmes