Help needed for hurricane victims

By: 
Chuck Kajer, The New Prague Times

Mother Nature showed off its awesome power last week, as Hurricane Dorian made its way along the eastern seaboard. Thankfully, much of the U.S. was spared from its fury, though there was some major flooding and damage when the hurricane made landfall in North Carolina.

However, the storm did major damage to the Bahamas, a nation of 700 islands not far from the Florida coast. The storm stalled over the Bahamas and stayed for more than  two days, with nearly three feet of rain and wind gusts exceeding 200 miles per hour. Two of the islands, Grand Island and Abaco, saw near total decimation from the storm. More than 40 people have been reported killed, with the number expected to rise as more areas become accessible.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates 13,000 homes may have been severely damaged or destroyed across the Bahamas (about half of all homes). The US Coast Guard and British Royal Navy are responding, but relief efforts are hampered because much of the infrastructures have been destroyed, including the main airport in Freeport, on Grand Island.

Bahamian prime minister Hubert Minnis said his country is in the midst of “a historic tragedy.”

It will take years, if not decades, for these islands to recover from this tragedy. There is a need for supplies and money. We urge people to open their hearts and their purses to help with the recovery efforts. If you choose to give, make sure the money is going to a reputable agency, such as the American Red Cross, UNICEF, Project Hope or others. Be careful and know where your money is going.

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