MARCH 3, 2020 | 5:00 P.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Just over 6 months after Hurricane Dorian brought devastation to the Bahamas, Convoy of Hope is still active in communities across the islands. With your help, here is what we've been able to accomplish so far: - Plane loads delivered: 36 - Containers shipped: 65 - Pounds of product distributed: 2,492,665 - Families served: 13,164 - Individuals served: 44,757 - Churches, organizations & operational partners: 107 - Communities served: 17 Our work centers on three of the islands: Grand Bahama, New Providence, and Abaco islands.
On Grand Bahama, distributions continue through the local church network. As promised, 14 homes have been re-drywalled. Additionally, two more containers of furniture were received at the warehouse and distributions have started for families in need.
On New Providence, two pallets of mixed food from the warehouse in Freeport were sent to Victory Chapel in Nassau for distribution.
On Abaco Island, the team sent additional containers of tents, cots, blankets, snacks for kids, and water to families in need. More distributions will begin on Saturday, March 7.
Convoy of Hope committed to staying in the Bahamas. We're fulfilling that commitment, and we are seeing the amazing change hope can bring in the midst of disaster.
NOVEMBER 14, 2019 | 4:00 P.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Hurricane Dorian is no longer in the news, but Convoy of Hope is still working in the affected communities, helping families put their lives back together.
Here is the latest news on our response:
- We’ve distributed food and emergency supplies to more than 30,000 people.
- We’ve flown in 35 plane loads of supplies.
- 58 containers have been shipped.
- 10,000 square feet of warehouse has been established.
- 4 UTVS were donated by Artic Cat to support our operations.
- We’re continuing to work closely with 100 local businesses, churches and organizations in 16 communities.
We have implemented a one-year relief and recovery strategy for the Bahamas. That plan includes distribution of “immediate relief supplies,” which includes food and water, clean up tools and materials, and more.
In addition, debris removal and “mud out” operations are in full swing on the east side of Grand Bahama Island, where communities were completely flattened.
Thank you for your generosity and trust. With your help, we believe the Bahamas will come back stronger than ever.
OCTOBER 7, 2019 | 8:40 A.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Convoy of Hope’s response to Hurricane Dorian continues to grow. Dozens of containers filled with food, water, tarps, camping supplies, and generators have been sent directly to community partners and more are waiting in ports to be delivered. The majority of these containers are going to hard-hit areas where Convoy of Hope teams and volunteers assist in unloading, bagging, and distributing the products.
In addition to our efforts on Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands, Convoy of Hope is providing relief to evacuees in shelters and homes in the capital of Nassau. Two containers are scheduled to arrive in Nassau, which will provide evacuees with basic food and hygiene supplies.
Convoy of Hope is also providing continued support from our warehouse in Florida. By having a constant flow of accessible product in close proximity, Convoy of Hope is maximizing every load we send to the Bahamas.
Life in these devastated communities is slowly being put back together, and Convoy of Hope is making long-term plans for the recovery process. Additional staff from Convoy of Hope’s International Program were on the ground this week, developing a plan for extended help.
To date, Convoy has provided more than $770,000 worth of relief supplies to more than 20,000 people affected by Hurricane Dorian. Those we serve send their heartfelt thanks to you, our dedicated supporters.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 | 9:20 A.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Convoy of Hope’s response to Hurricane Dorian is in full swing. Across the Bahamas, Convoy of Hope’s network of local partners continues to grow. We're equipping each partner with the food, water, and relief supplies they need to best serve their communities.
To date, Convoy of Hope is working with 20 community hubs for distribution. We’ve already shipped pallets and whole containers of goods to the islands, and more are on the way. In many communities, stores and vital infrastructure were completely destroyed. Outside help remains the only meaningful way residents can find relief.
Convoy of Hope partners in Florida are also providing vital resources to many Bahamians who evacuated to the United States.
Convoy of Hope’s response is poised to grow as the communities affected continue to recover. So far, Convoy of Hope has distributed more than 400,000 pounds of disaster relief supplies, including solar lanterns and water filters, to more than 16,000 individuals.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 | 6:00 P.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - It's been weeks since Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas, but Convoy of Hope's teams are still on the ground meeting needs. We've been able to serve thousands of people — but our work isn't done yet.
Teams are still distributing product and more is en route. Relief items will assist evacuees at shelters and in host homes.
Stateside, Convoy of Hope has secured a warehouse in Florida. Staff members are working with volunteers to oversee operations. Distributions will soon take place to help people who have evacuated their homes in the Bahamas.
Convoy of Hope is committed to helping people for the long haul. Hal Donaldson says, "We want to respond to disasters and help people as fast as we can, as much as we can, for as long as we can."
SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 | 10:45 A.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Disaster Services team members created 10 mixed-product pallets and distributed them to churches in Freeport yesterday. These churches will now serve as distribution centers for their communities. Additionally, the team created family food kits and distributed them to families affected by flooding.
In Nassau, Convoy of Hope continues to interface with organizations and church partners in the area who are servicing shelters. An airplane with supplies for the shelters is scheduled to arrive today and a container of supplies is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019 | 8:30 A.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Yesterday, the team worked to clear 18 pallets of product and delivered it to the warehouse in the Bahamas. The product will be delivered to distribution centers today.
In Nassau, the ability to wash clothing has been expressed as a high need. Convoy of Hope has been able to deliver laundry detergent and buckets to a shelter, allowing evacuees from Abaco to wash their clothing by hand.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 | 9:00 A.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Loads of relief supplies continue arriving in the Bahamas. Convoy of Hope team members are now more permanently on the ground and will help facilitate logistics for incoming loads in addition to coordinating with partners on the ground to serve communities in need.
Additional product should arrive in Nassau next week. This will be the first container into Nassau, and it will help Convoy of Hope serve more than 2,000 evacuees who are currently housed in shelters.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 | 10 A.M.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Hurricane Dorian’s unpredictable, two-week-long assault in the Atlantic Ocean has left the Bahamas in ruins. Houses are now piles of timber. Low-lying areas are still flooded. Loved ones are still missing.
Here’s what Convoy of Hope has done so far:
- Convoy of Hope has delivered 23 plane loads carrying clean water, tarps, ready-to-eat food items, Crisis Care Kits, diapers, wipes, formula, and even two generators.
- We have distributed more than 90,000 meals, 150 LuminAID solar lanterns, and 500 water filters to date.
- We’ve served more than 2,000 families and 7,500 individuals.
- We’ve assisted citizens of Freeport, Treasure Cay, Marsh Harbour, and Moore’s Island.
In the United States, we've delivered five truckloads of resources to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The emergency manager of Ocracoke Island secured warehouse space to store the resources for distribution. Local officials and churches will coordinate distribution moving forward, as our team has departed North Carolina.
We will continue to make updates as news comes from our teams in the Bahamas.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 | 1:00 P.M.
ABACO, BAHAMAS
UPDATE FROM THE FIELD
Convoy of Hope Reporter Jess Heugel sent this update from the ground.
The situation in the Abaco Islands is dire. Under the relentless sun, sweat runs down the faces of survivors who are still on the ground. Many people have left, but some cannot afford to leave. Hundreds of people gather next to the runway at the barely-functioning airport. There is no shelter, and they’ve been there for days baking in the sun, hoping to take any open seat on any airplane.
Tension is in the air, wafting with the smell of those who have died and are yet to be found. Trees, cars, and entire buildings have been wrenched from the ground and scattered by the Hurricane Dorian, which hovered over the island for days. Destruction stretches out in all directions.
But help is on the way.
On Saturday, Convoy of Hope landed several planes loaded to maximum capacity with food, water, tarps, medicine, and other relief supplies. Immediately, our planes are surrounded by volunteers who want to help unload. These are local volunteers, too; people who no longer have homes and are dealing with unimaginable loss. But they have decided to use what strength they have left to help.
Convoy of Hope staff and volunteers were able to connect with a truck that still had fuel and could transport supplies to a community center a few miles away. Survivors constantly come and go from this hub. Some need food, others need water. One man with a bloody bandage wrapped around his foot shoulders a case of water and slowly begins his way back home.
