Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has an ordered an evacuation of the Abacos and parts of Grand Bahama as Hurricane Dorian inches slowly towards the Bahamas on Friday.
“Government has decided to institute an emergency evacuation for residents from the northern cays of Abaco to mainland Abaco,” Minnis told a news conference, adding “we are also urging residents from West End, East End, Sweetings Cay and Waters Cay to move to the interior of Grand Bahama as quickly as possible.
“For those residents of Grand Bahama and Abaco who wish to leave these islands, flights are being increased. I am appealing to residents who are able to do so financially to seek shelter among family members and other suitable accommodations for their safety. As I speak, emergency evacuations are being conducted,” he said.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in its 2.00 pm (local time) bulletin said that the hurricane was ‘extremely dangerous” and “poses a significant threat to Florida and the northwestern Bahamas”.
It said the storm is 445 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas and moving westward at a speed of 10 miles per hour (mph).
“A slower west-northwestward to westward motion should begin tonight and continue into early next week. On this track, the core of Dorian should move over the Atlantic well north of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and tomorrow, be near or over the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday, and be near the Florida peninsula late Monday,” the NHC said.
It said data from a reconnaissance plane indicate that with maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph with higher gusts and that Dorian, a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale, should strengthen in the coming hours.
“Dorian is anticipated to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane while it moves near the northwestern Bahamas and approaches the Florida peninsula into early next week,” the NHC added.
Minnis urged residents in a number of areas to evacuate, adding “let me be extremely clear, those who refuse to evacuate, place themselves in great danger from this very powerful and potentially life-threatening hurricane.”
Minnis said it is incumbent upon residents to follow the evacuation order.
“Emergency personnel and assistance will be unavailable during the immediate impact of the hurricane for those in the projected path who do not evacuate,” he said, adding “let me again make the strongest plea possible to the residents of north and central Abaco and East End, Grand Bahama to evacuate their respective areas.
“Do not put your life and those of your loved ones at unnecessary risk.I urge you, do not be foolish and try to brave out this hurricane. The price you may pay for not evacuating is your life or other serious physical harm,” Minnis said.
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