Its the stuff of nightmares. Utter devastation to homes, businesses and infrastructure on one of the most beautiful archipelagos ever created. Even harder to imagine is the devastation of peoples' hearts and dreams.
Hurricane Dorian made landfall as a powerful and slow-moving Category 5 storm on Sunday, September 1, 2019. Having sustained winds of up to 185 mph and moving so slowly - just 1 or 2 mph - residents couldn't be given the all-clear until Wednesday morning.
The current death toll of 43 is expected to rise dramatically. There isn't yet a number for the amount of people missing and injured. Over 70,000 people left homeless after Dorian wiped their neighborhoods away. It is estimated that more than 60,000 people need water and food assistance. Flooding damage is significantly impacting medical treatment and supplies.
These are the moments when regular people, moved by compassion, can make a tremendous difference.
CitiHope president Paul Moore II received an email connecting him to one such person coordinating a grass-roots response. After a few messages and phone calls back & forth, CitiHope has begun sending pallets of long-dated antibiotics via a small aircraft, and these deliveries will continue in the coming days and weeks.
We are working with close partners, collaborating with larger organizations and resourcing people and facilities on the ground in Treasure Cay and Abacos. And it all started with one individual - one email introduction - reaching out for help.
Much media attention is focused now on how to help northern Bahamas - government agencies, big and small relief organizations, private companies are all pitching in. Thank goodness, because there is plenty of work to go around. We can quickly feel overwhelmed at the scope of destruction.
Best-selling author Max Lucado is quoted as saying, "No one can do everything, but everyone can do something."
We invite you be part of this story, and allow compassion to move your heart to action. Volunteer work trips will happen eventually, but what is needed now is finances to help get the medicine to Abacos and Treasure Cay, and into the hands of professionals who are treating patients.
Here are a few ways to "do something":
Donate via the link below
Involve your family and friends - spread the word via your platforms
Sign up for future volunteer opportunities
Pray for the people impacted, for the responders - for everyone helping on the ground.
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