How Hurricane Dorian Affected Milligan Students

Clear blue water, white sand and sunny skies. These are the typical words used to describe the Bahamas. Between June and November, another word can be added: hurricanes. The Bahamas frequently experience these deadly storms, averaging eight per year. 

Over the past week, Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc across the Bahamas. Winds reaching 185 mph, more than 36 inches of rainfall and flooding that caused extensive damage has claimed at least 50 lives so far.

While the threat of flooding and destruction seemed far away from Milligan, the threat hit closer to home for some, like seniors Katy Priest and Tons Ferguson.

“My mother is from Spanish Wells, Bahamas, off the northern tip of Eleuthera,” Priest said. “All of my mother’s family lives in that area.” 

Spanish Wells was one island that was spared from Hurricane Dorian, with only minor rain and low winds. 

Knowing that her family could be in serious danger, along with the added stress of school starting back, has taken a toll on her emotionally. “There’s always that lingering fear of someone passing away or losing everything,” said Priest. “My family is safe, and there was no significant damage.”

“If anything, my family will suffer more economic repercussions,” Priest said. A big source of income for her family comes from lobster fishing. “With the hurricane, they had to bring all of the fishers back from their season, and the storm may have damaged some of their traps and ships.”

Priest described what her family does to prepare for a hurricane, such as boarding up windows and doors and anchoring boats.“The most difficult thing is stocking up on groceries,” Priest said. “Since there is an import duty on most items, a gallon of milk in the Bahamas costs double what it does in the United States.”  Since the Bahamas are islands, their groceries are delivered by boat once a week. This adds to the challenge of stocking up on groceries.

Ferguson also talked about what his family did to prepare for Hurricane Dorian. His mother and sister got hurricane shutters for doors and windows and made sure loose debris and loose tree limbs were cut. They put a few sandbags in front of doors to prevent serious flooding.

Most of his family that lives in Grand Bahama evacuated to Nassau, where his immediate family lives. “For the most part, my family is safe and doing well,” said Ferguson.

Ferguson also talked about what his family did to prepare for Hurricane Dorian. His mother and sister got hurricane shutters for doors and windows and made sure loose debris and loose tree limbs were cut. They put a few sandbags in front of doors to prevent serious flooding.

As did Priest, Ferguson said the hurricane was “mentally taxing”for him. “I know that my island was spared, but to see the absolute devastation and destruction Hurricane Dorian left on Grand Bahamas and Abaco is disheartening,” said Ferguson. He is also reminded of the hurricane and its destruction everyday on social media.

Both Priest and Ferguson said that the best thing to do now is to help with donations of money, clothes, food and water or prayer.

“Our country will be changed from this, but there is one thing I know for certain,” Ferguson said. “My people are strong, prayerful, and resilient. As our national motto states, ‘Forward, Upward, Onward Together.’”

Headline photo: Katy Priest poses with a sign while visiting her family in the Bahamas.