Driving around the western edge of Grand Bahama on Thursday, Jerreth Rolle could hardly believe Hurricane Wilma’s devastation: entire communities washed into the sea, church roofs on the ground, concrete foundations gone.
“It really took a lot of people off-guard. No one expected it to materialize like it did,” Rolle said by telephone while driving through Pinder’s Point. Wilma is better known for dozens of deaths and massive destruction in Mexico and South Florida, where it scored direct hits. But devastation was also immense in parts of the Bahamas, which was pounded Monday by hurricane-force winds.
The storm unearthed coffins on several northwestern Bahamian islands, sending them floating down streets along with scores of homes and buildings.
“It’s a shocking site to see,” said Rolle, whose West End home was damaged last year during Hurricane Frances but was spared Wilma’s wrath. “So many homes leveled. I’m just trying to figure out how the ocean can creep onto the shore like that.”
Authorities reported one fatality: A 17-month-old boy from the Hunter’s Eight Mile Rock area was whisked away by the storm surge as his family attempted to flee to safety. His body was later recovered a mile away from his home.
On Thursday, Bahamian authorities were still assessing the damage. The reports:
ﾕ At least 80 homes were destroyed and another 120 were severely damaged on Grand Bahama, which includes Freeport. In all, seven settlements — Williams Town, Mack Town, Lewis Yard, Pinder’s Point, Hunter’s, Hanna’s Hill and Eight Mile Rock — were affected.
ﾕ Eight homes were destroyed along with a government clinic on Abaco. A government dock located on Sandy Point in south Abaco experienced severe damage. There also was coastal erosion and minor flooding.
ﾕ The interiors of eight waterfront homes on Bimini were washed into the sea, while a hotel on the island sustained significant damage.
In all, Wilma affected more than 1,000 Bahamians, said Carl Smith, the country’s national disaster coordinator. Smith said initial reports suggest the sea surge was between 12 and 15 feet and that the sea came inland as much as 250 yards as Wilma’s winds moved southwest.
Some 800 people were initially in shelters. Many have moved out but are still coming back for food and supplies, said Marina Glinton, head of the Bahamas Red Cross.
“We are providing food, blankets, water, hygiene kits . . . plastic sheeting for roofs,” Glinton said. “All of the communities are in the same boat. They are on the coast. They are severely damaged.”
BY JACQUELINE CHARLES
http://www.miami.com/
