The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Businesses and residents in the southern Bahamas were yesterday taking “very seriously” the threat from Hurricane Joaquin, now a Category One hurricane that is threatening to get stronger.

Cheryl de Goicoechea, president of the Long Island Chamber of Commerce, told Tribune Business: “People are taking this thing very seriously. People are very shocked. Some of the fishermen are still out to sea and that’s kind of concerning to their families. Hopefully, they can make it in before we get the full brunt.”

She added: “On the west side there is a lot of water. The beaches and the shore line are getting banged up pretty good. We have been having higher than normal tide because of the super moon.

“People are taking this thing seriously. They are securing their homes, their businesses and getting groceries as in normal hurricane preparation. It’s totally unexpected because there was no sign of a hurricane, but now it’s on top of us.

“It’s concerning because they say it’s going to have a high surge on the west side, so people on that side may have to relocate somewhere else for the time being. We have a little rain and wind. Right now everybody is as ready as they are going to be.”

Teddy Clarke, of the Exuma Chamber of Commerce, told Tribune Business: “People are taking this storm seriously. It’s evidenced by the fact that they are flooding the food stores and the gas stations, trying to prepare themselves.”

Joaquin strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic on Wednesday morning and is forecast to drop 10 to 15 inches of rain over San Salvador and Rum Cay today, with up to five inches expected over the rest of the central Bahamas.

Rainfall of three to five inches is possible over the remainder of the central Bahamas through to Friday morning, with two to four inches expected over the northeast and southeast Bahamas.

New Providence is not expected to be hit directly, but tropical storm force winds and localised flooding are expected in the capital.

The US National Hurricane Centre said Joaquin could become a Category 3 hurricane, with winds of 115mph, in the Atlantic Ocean by Saturday after leaving the Bahamas.