The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

EVACUATIONS for residents in the southeast Bahamas got underway yesterday, with emergency management officials moving scores of people out of low lying areas as parts of the country are expected to feel the effects of Hurricane Matthew as early as this morning.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, while speaking at an emergency press briefing at the Cabinet Office, implored Bahamians to take the massive category four storm seriously.

Mr Christie said his government moved those considered “vulnerable” from the threat lines of the storm, including residents that are sick, elderly and young.

He said the government had been able to, up to press time, orchestrate the removal of residents from the Crooked Island and Acklins area; while also setting in motion plans to remove some residents from Long Island.

“We have been able to have an aircraft go in, and an aircraft move people out of places like Acklins and Crooked Island and most certainly we have made plans for the same thing happening in Long Island,” Mr Christie said.

He added: “But wherever there may be vulnerable people, the intention of the government is to be able to put in place a plan that would enable them to come out to safer destinations within the Bahamas.”

According to figures from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and confirmed by respective island administrators, roughly 23 persons were airlifted out of Crooked Island at 9am Monday.

Francita Neely, island administrator in Crooked Island, said officials there spent Monday going door to door ensuring that those residents remaining on the island had the necessary supplies to “get through” Matthew.

“We were trying to get it all done today. Plywood sheets are up, facilities are being secured and we are doing all we can. There are still some cases we are working, but for the most part, I think we are ready,” said Ms Neely.

“All of us here remember Joaquin, so we are all doing what we can to ensure that our properties and houses are secured,” she added.

Ms Neely said she held off of calling for a complete evacuation of Crooked Island because she was of the view that this would prove pointless, as all of the destinations for fleeing residents were also in the forecast track of Matthew.

“I felt as if that call should have been left up to the residents because in a situation like this, there is no best answer here.”

Roughly 250 people are said to still be on the island. Many are reported to be in homes that are secured, or near NEMA certified and monitored storm shelters.

Over in Acklins, it was said that 83 persons attempted to leave the island as a part of evacuation efforts yesterday. Of that number, around 23 persons were asked to await a second flight due to a lack of seats.

Acklins Island Administrator Chrisfield Johnson said those left were informed that officials here in New Providence were arranging a second flight.

Mr Johnson also said minor issues were uncovered with the hurricane shelter identified for the Snug Corner settlement - Snug Corner Primary School.

He said it was determined by community leaders that the building sat too near to the sea.

“There was some issues with that set up, therefore we opted to go with the Community Centre in Spring Point,” Mr Johnson said.

Acklins has a population of roughly 400 persons.

Residents on the island are said to be apprehensive, and in some cases fearful as Matthew approaches.

A group of residents, said to be around 30, was airlifted from Mayaguana to Exuma on Monday around noon.

That group was expected to arrive in Nassau yesterday evening.

Residents in Ragged Island, Long Cay and Samana Cay in particular, have been instructed to move to the more developed islands nearby.

With respect to Long Island, one of the islands mentioned by Prime Minister Christie on Monday, officials there were still eagerly awaiting final details on evacuation flights.

Long Island MP Loretta Butler Turner told The Tribune she was informed that discussions were held in Cabinet over a timeline for evacuations.

Stocking shelters with more food items and making them ready to receive persons were also discussed, she said.

Mrs Butler-Turner said she also received assurances on the transportation of persons to shelters, availability of fuel on the island, an extra social worker for the island, security of government building and concerns about flooding.

On Sunday, Long Island Administrator Terrece Bootle-Bethel told The Tribune that residents there were taking warnings very seriously.

She noted at the time that there was a level of nervousness among Long Islanders, as the fear over Joaquin and what it did has left many of them scarred.

She stated: “We are working, and as in the nature of these things, no one can pick when the time is best. This comes at a time when we are still recovering from last year and there remains some challenges.”

She made note of drainage issues in Scrub Hill, Long Island, an area that proved critical during Joaquin.

Mrs Butler-Turner raised the matter on Monday, with her calling a lack of repairs in this matter “a problem” heading into Matthew.