Domes unveiled to house 1,000 people in Abaco

A model of the Family Relief Centre’s dome structure that will include plumbing, drainage, a sewer system, and electricity. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

As of Friday, October 11, 2019

A look inside the dome structure.

By RIEL MAJOR

Tribune Staff Reporter

rmajor@tribunemedia.net

THE family centre relief site in Abaco that will feature dome housing structures capable of withstanding 180mph to 200mph winds will accommodate 250 domes and about 1,000 people, according to co-chair of disaster and reconstruction committee, John-Michael Clarke.

Speaking to reporters during a NEMA press conference yesterday, Mr Clarke said the first shipment of domes will arrive next week.

He said: "Each dome is 20 feet in diameter, it's 12 feet high and each dome can accommodate up to four to five persons. …the family relief site is located just next to the Spring City subdivision in Abaco.

"The site has already been cleared and the infrastructure for the site and the materials for the infrastructure of the site will be down on Wednesday the 16th and we will start to install the infrastructure next week Thursday the 17th. …over the next five weeks we will be getting dome shipments every week until the site is fully built up."

He added: "The reason the dome structure was chosen is one, we are very early in the hurricane season and two if you look at the level of devastation in Abaco, the recovery will last maybe two or three years or more. We settled on the dome structure because it's a resilient structure."

When asked for a timeline for the people staying in the domes, he said the Department of Social Services along with government policy makers are going to determine the protocols for the persons who actually go into the family relief centre.

"It is meant to be temporary; all of the discussions about establishing the family relief centre at the particular juncture is that the centre is meant to be temporary. In terms of timeframe that temporary has not been defined but it's not definite," he explained.

Mr Clarke said by next week Tuesday the first shipment of 100 recreational vehicles (RVs) will arrive in Abaco to house government employees.

"These are currently being loaded in the port of Palm Beach. Each one of the RVs can house between three to four public servants. When they are all on the ground it's anticipated between 300 and 400 government workers can utilise these trailers," he noted.

"When we say all agencies, we mean all agencies, so we had meetings this week and we have tasked the agencies with giving us these staff complement. The idea is to get the government up and running again in Abaco as soon as possible."

He added: "The RVs will be housed on the fields of the public schools, primary school and the high schools. Of course, they'll have the necessary security, each RV will have its own, these will be outfitted with furniture already and appliances. They would have their own water and waste supply."

To date, there are 895 persons in eight shelters in New Providence, according to Deputy Director of Social Services Kim Sawyer. She also said the shelters in Grand Bahama and Abaco were deactivated; along with the All Saints shelter.

She said: "Those persons from the All Saints were moved to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Today we will deactivate the Fox Hill Centre and there are 120 persons in that shelter, and they will be moved to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

"Tomorrow, which is October 11, we will deactivate the shelter at the Pilgrim Baptist Church and those 47 persons will be moved to the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium. To date we have 310 persons in the main gym, 58 in tent A and 62 in tent B and we will consolidate those and move those into the gym to accommodate persons being moved from the other shelters."

Captain Stephen Russel, NEMA director, said the agency's key concern in Abaco and Grand Bahama is to continue the clean-up operations in those districts that would have been impacted.

Capt Russell said: "A number of contracts would have been awarded to persons to help with that clean-up operations in Abaco and Grand Bahama as mentioned. As they go through the clean-up operation their always mindful that we are still in the search and recovery mode for deceased persons that maybe in the rubble that are in those areas.

"They are employing a layer by layer approach in moving the debris and to make sure that when they get to the bottom of there any deceased persons that maybe there are removed with decency and order."

Capt Russell also said some $5m in donations were made into NEMA's accounts from local, regional and international partners.

He said: "Right now we have tons and tons of food supplies in warehouses in Florida, New Providence, Abaco and Grand Bahama so we are doing very well with food and water supplies."

Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 1 month ago

What's the difference between a back yard shed and a dome? Answer: A back yard shed has tools in it whereas a dome has illegal Haitian aliens in it.

The Minnis-led FNM government is resurrecting, at great wasted expense to taxpayers, the Dorian destroyed shanty towns into brand new dome towns. And to think, some actually believed when they voted back in May 2017 that it would be their time. Minnis is a very sick man.....sick in the head in a very bad way!

milesair 5 years, 1 month ago

Kind of like Trump! LMAO

Garynicolas 5 years, 1 month ago

What would be your plans to help the hurricane victims. What have you done? The hurricane victims are not just Haitians. Have you even been to abaco?

ohdrap4 5 years, 1 month ago

Well they will dole the domes out to favorites. Who will then rent it out to illegald.

sheeprunner12 5 years, 1 month ago

That will be the worst case scenario .......... a real scenario.

juju 5 years, 1 month ago

Well mudda you are negative and cynical.

Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 1 month ago

Oh pleezzz.....it doesn't take a crystal ball to see what's happening. Who's the muck-a-muck Minnis or Lewis connected Bahamian who's gonna be minting money off of these outrageously costly domes?

TalRussell 5 years, 1 month ago

Red shirts are bucking new bathroom trend in that comrade Abacoians with their central government sponsored makeshift tents are being dubbed as a return to the historic Outhouse sanitary imperialism ....Soon to follow the Outhouses, Abacoians will see the return the Wireless Telephone Operator, yes, no .... You can't just make this up ....

John 5 years, 1 month ago

Let’s not forget that most homes and businesses , especially in The Abacos, were destroyed by tidal surge and not wind damage. While it is understood that these domes are only temporary shelter, does government have a contingency plan in the event of another strong hurricane?

joeblow 5 years, 1 month ago

… of course. The contingency is always another large loan!

TalRussell 5 years, 1 month ago

Ma comrades, the contingency to deal hurricane 2020 will be to have another middle man's purchase another US$6 million of tents. Why, because the central government will not have a damn clue as to whatever hell happened to the missing, and left un maintained, first set 250 US$24,000 tents, yes, no .... What is it called when it's never the central government that does the buying of everything, directly. .... Please understand okay, you just can't make this up cause political mischief ....

Bonefishpete 5 years, 1 month ago

The Domes? Definitely sounds better than The Mudds

SP 5 years, 1 month ago

No mention of HVAC is most disturbing! These domes look like "dome ovens" our grandparents use to talk about and are probably just as hot to live in!

Giordano 5 years, 1 month ago

Domes village will be like upgraded shanty towns in the interplanetary styles consisting of half sphere that evade high speed winds still will be located in vulnerable spaces to floods and also without A.C. and an estimated value of $24,000/tent only to sleep like sardine in the can; that's not so smart to do because ,with that money, something better could be builded with blocks & concrete and all amenities in place plus internet free for everyone in that area. If the Domes are the ones to be installed,they should be the only part visible ,on the surface ,of a much more bigger and organized "Bunker" placed at least 50 feets under the Domes,fully equipped with all can goods,Oxigen,first Aid,water,meds etc. Etc. ,durable at least for a couples of years to be prepared not only to natural phenomenon but also to man made disasters like the result of using biological weapons making the atmosphere unsuitable for humans to be on surface. If the government will engage a solution,they should do it good,always putting Quality First even before people.

SP 5 years, 1 month ago

I hear you talking but 20 feet under the Domes is below depth for shallow well water. 50 feet would more than likely be unlimited seawater.

There are many other quick build systems available to withstand a cat5 hurricane. https://www.category-5.com

I think they are ugly. Minnis and crew may have rushed to a conclusion that works but may not be the most practical and aesthetically acceptable solution to the problem.

All most of us care about at this point is that our Abaconian brothers and sisters are properly cared for. It would be an expensive tragedy if the government invested tax-paying Bahamian dollars on these domes and illegal Haitians benefited!

ThisIsOurs 5 years, 1 month ago

they do look like igloos. I wonder if theyre built for the subartic regions. They have strong wind storms up/down there. While with no windows they'll be great for the cold...will be interesting to find out how they do with the sun beating down on them for 16 hours a day and mosquitoes at night..I hope they thought of that. Then again for someone who has no place to live at all...will see how the residents feel by March next year.

The_Oracle 5 years, 1 month ago

I hope they realize RV's have potable water tanks and waste tanks that need to be pumped out..........RV plumbing and electrical systems need to be learned to utilize and care for. and the domes need water and sewer hook up.......or are we doing french style open culverts.....

Meanwhile there are barges equipped with accommodations available that can house hundreds each.

Again, total lack of logistical knowledge, often what seems a good idea turns bad very quick without thinking it al the way through.

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