Update on the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian

[Transcript] This is an update related to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.

The most affected areas are the Abaco and Grand Bahama islands. They still have no running water, electricity, and limited connections.

The United Nations estimated about 76,000 in Abaco and Grand Bahama have been left homeless. The death toll has increased to 50 recently. Carribbean health officials said there are environmental health concerns in the northern island and a stench of dead animals and possibly human bodies.

About deaf survivors -- according to people from Carribbean Deaf News (CBN), they are waiting to hear from deaf people in the most affected areas. CBN mentioned that deaf people from Nassau will try to visit Abaco and Grand Bahama to connect with deaf survivors.

One person who works for the International Christian Centers for the Deaf (ICCD) mentioned that ICCD has just begun hearing back from some of their deaf friends. Many have survived, but many have lost their homes. Communication is very limited right now. ICCD recently set up a donation link to go towards the deaf survivors.

Thomas Koch, a deaf course director and owner of Aqua Hands, has connections with the Bahamas. Koch mentioned that he heard back from a person named Jonathan who works with deaf people in Freeport, an area in Grand Bahama. Jonathan reported that there are 55 deaf people who live in Freeport. He is currently helping the deaf people there. There is limited access to communication.

There are two options to make a donation for the hurricane relief fund that will go towards deaf survivors. One is to Koch’s Facebook post that explains one of his friends who is collecting donations for the hurricane relief fund will donate some of the funds to deaf people. The other one is ICCD. Links are in the transcript below.

Access to the internet is very difficult now so we will let you know once we connect with someone from Abaco or Grand Bahama.

Thomas Koch:

https://www.facebook.com/thomasjkoch/videos/10157734591064612/

ICCD:

https://www.iccd.net/?fbclid=IwAR1oVzNdcamGyXuWWs5UrPvcvL9OYCJl4nRQwv3KKkw7ofWiUX_3-q6opmQ

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/10/hurricane-dorian-bahamas-death-toll-devastation-latest