Dangerous winds and life-threatening storm surge continue on Grand Bahama Island, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Wind gusts of up to 140 mph, storm surges are 10 to 15 feet above normal tide levels and extreme flooding with up to 30 inches of rain are all among the hazards listed, which are expected to continue through most of Tuesday. CNN adds that Hurricane Dorian is the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in the Bahamas.
A video shared on Twitter by chef José Andrés shows tremendous damage to Great Abaco.
We got this video from our Bahamian driver! This came from Abaco island, while the Eye of Dorian was passing by...@WCKitchen big damage! pic.twitter.com/nq0VWen2Cc
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) September 1, 2019
The Caribbean Tourism Organization released the following statement in the wake of Dorian’s impact on the Bahamas: “The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) expresses our deepest regret and sadness over the loss of life and damage done to the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island by dangerous category 5 hurricane Dorian.
“In the wake of this monstrous storm, we have witnessed the pain of those who lost loved ones, the agony of so many who lost their homes and all their belongings, and the angst of an entire Caribbean concerned for the welfare of the people of these islands.
“However, as has been demonstrated so many times in the past, we have weathered many storms, we are a resilient people who refuse to surrender even in the most difficult of times, and we are confident that the people of the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, with the full support of the Islands of the Bahamas and the Caribbean tourism family, will navigate the road to recovery together and emerge stronger.
“With the Bahamas being an archipelago with more than 700 islands and cays spread over 100,000 square miles, the greatest impact of Hurricane Dorian is being felt in the northernmost islands of the Abacos and Grand Bahama, while most of the nation has been mostly unaffected.”
To that note, Warwick Paradise Island - Bahamas has shared with Travel Agent that its 340 in-house guests—including tourists and staff members—are safe and that the resort is fully operational and incurred no damage. Warwick Paradise Island - Bahamas has a hurricane policy in place.
Baha Mar adds, “We are grateful the storm did not directly impact our associates, guests and Baha Mar, all of which are our utmost priorities. The island of New Providence sustained minimal damage and Baha Mar is open and fully operational, as is Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport.”
From Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas: “We are grateful that New Providence and Atlantis Paradise Island were not severely impacted by the storm. However, several of the family islands in northwestern Bahamas are experiencing devastating life-threatening conditions.”
Additionally, tropical storm-strength wind gusts are also according along the Treasure Coast of Florida, according to the NHC. The New York Times reports Dorian could threaten Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. “Even if the hurricane’s center does not reach the Florida coast, strong winds and rain are all but certain to disrupt life in that region. Much of Florida’s eastern coast is also susceptible to dangerous storm surges,” the report says.
This article originally appeared on www.travelagentcentral.com.