Hurricane Dorian is a tropical cyclone that just impacted the Bahamas in a devastating way. Also threatening the Southeastern United States coastline causing a panic among the Miami Dade and Broward residents. On August 24 Dorian developed from a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic before gradually intensifying and becoming a category 4 hurricane around August 28. Then in the next few days becoming a category 5 that was parked right over the Island of Great Abaco and Grand Bahamas. With winds of 185 mph and land fall tides. Hurricane Dorian has become the strongest landfall hurricane in the Atlantic ocean. With heavy rainfalls, prolonged storm conditions and storm surge damage in the Bahamas which has been extensive.
In the United States mostly in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Virginia declared a state of emergency. Especially in Florida where the storm was originally headed and expected to ravish through Miami. The panic of Hurricane Dorian’s arrival caused many Miami Dade and Broward residents to prepare cautiously. All over Miami Dade many were buying water and food in local stores such as Walmart in a frenzy. Isles and isles were empty with no water, canned goods or bread. Gas stations had a mile long line that often resulted in empty gas stations with no more gas or propane. Many even sold out Home Depot in hopes of getting sand and ply wood to prepare for the expected devastation but luckily “we were spared” says one Miami Dade resident. Which is completely in contrast to what Bahamian residents experienced as Hurricane Dorian traveled along the Caribbean.
Bahamian prime minister Hubert Minnis stated that Hurricane Dorian left “generational devastation” and is asking for prayers for the family of the people that have lost their lives in this Hurricane. There has already been a death count of about 30 people who lost their lives and it is expected to rise as rescuers continue to search through the devastation. Houses are destroyed, light post are downs, trees cover the street, massive flooding and people left traumatized from losing their home and all their personal belongings.
One of the saddest stories is of the 8 year old boy who’s grandma reported his drowning as the waters rose. “I just saw my grandson about two days ago,” McIntosh said. “He told me he loved me. He was going back to Abaco, he turned around and said, ‘Grandma, I love you.’’ The grandma found the boy’s body but reports her other granddaughter is still missing. More are expected to be found but “the conditions are still dire” authorities say making it very difficult to continue rescuing or searching for casualties of the Dorian. Now another concern is the flooding caused by Dorian with rainfall that has lead to 24-30 inches of rain in the northwestern parts of the Bahamas. Authorities suggest “residents should not leave the shelters or surviving homes until conditions subside”
In the Abaco Islands 60% of the homes are destroyed which has cause many residents to be homeless. Many residents affected by Dorian are speaking out. Krystel Brown of The Nassau Guardian newspaper got a chance to speak to Adrian Farrington who she encountered in Princess Margaret hospital in Nassau, the capital. Airlifted from Abaco, Farrington braved the storm with his young son on his back. Brown reports that Farrington had to resort to finding shelter in others’ home “putting my son on the roof” at one point. Farrington reports having put his son on the roof to protect him from the storm surge but the wind knocked his son off and he has not seen his son since.
Farrington made it to a church after this traumatic incident having to crawl as he found a nearby church since he suffered a broken leg. At the church he was still not out of harms way as he watched the walls sway eventually collapsing on the other residents taking shelter in the church “I don’t know if there are any survivors” Farrington said. Rescue and International search teams continue to search carefully through the island for casualties and those in need of rescue. Very poor neighborhoods have suffered the worst with total devastation in their area. British Royal navy vessels have been distributing food and water and many in the United States have been sending donations over to the Island.
All throughout this week in Miami Dade there have been donation collection trying to get as much as they can together from the residents. Water, canned goods and other necessities are very much welcomed in the Miami Dade and Broward donations.
Items that are needed are as follows hygiene kits are being collected such as diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, sanitary napkins, deodorant and toothpaste. Non-perishable food items, water containers, first aid items such as bandages and gauzes, portable radios, portable potty, batteries, insect repellents and cleaning supplies such as disinfectants, mops, brooms and bleach. Also chainsaws, shovels, axes and wheel barrows for debris removal. If you are in the Miami-Dade area I urge you to donate. Together we must help the devastation in the Bahamas every way we can. Working together will help speed up the recovery process in the most affected areas by Hurricane Dorian.
These are the most current drop off locations in Miami Dade:
- Miami-Dade County Main Library
101 W. Flagler Street, Miami - Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW First Street, Miami - Joseph Caleb Center
5400 NW 22nd Avenue, Miami - Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management Warehouse
8008 NW 14th Street, Miami - South Dade Government Center
10710 SW 211th Street, Cutler Bay - Miami-Dade County Downtown Motor Pool – drive-through location
201 NW First Street, Miami - Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds
10901 SW 24th Street, Gate 3, Miami
Parking validation for those making donations at the Stephen P. Clark Center in Downtown Miami will be provided at the drop-off point on the first floor. All other drop-off locations have free parking available.
Municipal Partners:
- Allen Park Youth Center
1770 NE 162nd Street, North Miami Beach
Monday – Friday: noon to 9 p.m.
Saturday: noon to 5 p.m. - Aventura Government Center
19200 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura
2nd Floor City Hall
Monday – Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Sept. 11 (except Sept. 8) - Biscayne Park Fire Station
144 NE 5th Street, Miami
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Biscayne Park Village Hall
600 NE 114th Street, Biscayne Park
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Coral Gables Fire Stations
Fire Stations 1-3 - Cutler Bay Town Center
10720 Caribbean Blvd., Suite 105, Cutler Bay
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Cutler Ridge Park
10100 SW 200th Street, Cutler Bay
In the Recreation Building
Monday – Friday: 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.- Doral Legacy Park
11400 NW 82nd Street, Doral
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Doral Meadow Park
11555 NW 58th Street, Doral
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Ed Burke Recreation Center
11400 NE 9th Court, Biscayne Park
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - El Portal Village Hall
500 NE 87th Street, El Portal
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: Noon to 1 p.m. - Goodlet Park
4200 West 8th Avenue, Hialeah - Hialeah Fire Stations
Various locations - Hialeah Gardens City Hall
10001 NW 87th Avenue, Hialeah Gardens
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Hialeah Gardens Police Department
10301 NW 87th Avenue, Hialeah Gardens
Donations accepted 24 hours a day - Highland Village Community Center
13621 NE 21st Avenue, North Miami Beach
Monday – Friday: noon to -9 p.m.
Saturday: noon to 5 p.m. - Key Biscayne – Crandon Boulevard Unit 38
260 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne - Medley Police Department
7777 NW 72nd Avenue, Medley
Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Medley Town Hall
7777 NW 72nd Avenue, Medley - Miami Dade College Student Life
Various locations - City of Miami Fire Stations
Various locations
Monday – Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Miami Beach Fire Stations
Stations 1-4
Monday – Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Miami Lakes Town Hall
6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes - Miami Shores Brockway Memorial Library
10021 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Shores
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Miami Shores Community Center
9617 Park Drive, Miami Shores
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Miami Shores Village Hall
10050 NE Second Avenue, Miami Shores
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Miami Springs Community Center
1401 Westward Drive, Miami Springs
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Morgan Levy Park
5300 NW 102nd Avenue, Doral
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - North Bay Village – Village Hall
1666 Kennedy Causeway, North Bay Village - North Miami Beach Building Department
17050 NE 19th Avenue, North Miami Beach
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - North Miami Beach City Hall
17011 NE 19th Avenue, North Miami Beach
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - North Miami Beach Library
1601 NE 164th Street, North Miami Beach
Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 7:50 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m to 5 p.m. - North Miami Beach Motor Pool
1965 NE 151st Street, North Miami Beach
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. - North Miami Beach Operations Center
2101 NE 159th Street, North Miami Beach
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. - North Miami Beach Police Department
16901 NE 19th Avenue, North Miami Beach
Donations accepted 24 hours a day - North Miami City Hall
776 NE 125th Street, North Miami
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Palmetto Bay Village Hall
9505 E. Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Parks and Recreation Administrative Office
17051 NE 19th Avenue, North Miami Beach
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Pinecrest Community Center
5855 Killian Drive, Pinecrest
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Pinecrest Municipal Center
12645 Pinecrest Parkway, Pinecrest
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - South Miami Police Department
6130 Sunset Drive, South Miami
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Surfside Town Hall
9293 Harding Avenue, Surfside
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Donations accepted 24 hours a day - Sweetwater Government – at Dolphin Mall
11401 NW 12th Street, Miami
Thursday, Sept. 5: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Sunny Isles Beach Government Center
18070 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach
Friday, Sept 6: 8:30 a.m to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Thalatta Estate
17301 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Uleta Park Community Center
386 NE 169th Street, North Miami Beach
Monday – Friday: noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday: nooon to 5 p.m. - Washington Park Community Center
15290 NE 15th Court
Monday – Friday: noon to 9 p.m.
Saturday: nooon to 5 p.m. - Westland Gardens Park
13501 NW 107th Avenue, Hialeah Gardens
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Municipalities should deliver donated supplies from their jurisdictions to the Fuchs Pavilion at the Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Please take a look at these drop off locations and go to one near you. Or you can do it online:
https://www8.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/cares/home.page
Remember right now we are comfortable and blessed as the storm didn’t impact us directly and the fact that we were out of danger should cause us to help. Every little help counts so please make sure to contribute to the relief efforts for the Bahamas.I pray for the families and friends of the victims that were affected by this horrible natural disaster and hope we can all work together to help the residents in the Bahamas.
