Long after the headlines fade, communities that have experienced major disasters continue to recover for months and even years.
The Bahamas are more than a year into rebuilding after Hurricane Dorian, which devastated communities across the islands in September 2019. Today, the Red Cross continues to work with the community on the long road to recovery.
Alberta-based Matt Baden, who is now a Rapid Response Manager with the Canadian Red Cross, spent six months in the Bahamas with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) working alongside the Bahamas Red Cross to help the community and residents rebuild.
“While I was only able to visit Grand Bahama,” says Baden, “the damage on the island was still very visceral even six months out. Clear damage to buildings, downed trees and issues with saltwater intrusion into aquifers meant that water access was an ongoing issue.”
The hurricane hit the northern islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama and the surrounding cays from September 1 to 3, 2019 and caused extensive damage. Communities were destroyed and power went down. Thousands of people were displaced.
Baden says many families chose to relocate permanently from Abaco to Nassau or elsewhere on New Providence because of the devastation to the island.
“Part of the work ... was helping these displaced people in adapting to their new normal and ensuring they could be connected with other available services.”
Baden adds that he “felt very welcome and appreciated on arrival, and in spite of many challenges, Bahamians were always extremely polite and warm to talk with.”
The road to recovery will be long and the Canadian Red Cross will continue to support individuals, families and communities affected by the disaster in the weeks, months and years to come.
Through the International Federation of the Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross is supporting the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Bahamas Red Cross branch office, warehouse and training centre in Grand Bahama. The Canadian Red Cross is also working alongside the Bahamas Red Cross to strengthen their preparedness and response systems to assist Bahamians in future hurricanes.
Learn more about
Canadian Red Cross International Operations.
Photo Courtesy: Matt Baden