If you haven’t already read my original commentary below, it might be helpful to do so before proceeding.
That said, I suspect you’ve seen enough harrowing images to appreciate the truly apocalyptic devastation Dorian left in its wake. Frankly, given the way all media are wallowing in it, the coverage is beginning to smack of wreckage porn.
Meanwhile, for those who survived, the worst is yet to come. What Hurricane Maria left in its wake comes to mind. But, believe it or not, the Puerto Ricans who survived that hurricane were better positioned – in many respects – to recover and rebuild. This is why comparisons to what Hurricane Katrina left behind are so misplaced.
Just imagine your state of mind if a storm completely destroyed 98 percent of your city, including every home in your neighborhood, and left the other 2 percent severely damaged. Imagine further that, instead of expecting billions in immediate assistance from your government, you were left depending on the kindness of strangers (from other countries) for everything from food, water and medicine to temporary housing, public safety, and basic hope.
NO water, no power, no fuel, and no communication …
(The Nassau Tribune, September 4, 2019)
Except that, for most people, the Tribune could, indeed should, have added no home, no job.
Incidentally, far from rebuilding their lives, many Puerto Ricans are still trying to recover nearly a year later. Therefore, I fear the recovery phase for many Bahamians will be much longer. And this, notwithstanding the generous and truly remarkable support from fellow Caribbean natives, Americans, and others from around the world.
No doubt you’ve seen videos of major relief organizations like Project Hope, Mercy Corps, and Samaritan’s Purse doing what they do so well. We are exceedingly grateful for all they’re doing to help fill basic needs.
But no relief agency is filling a more urgent need than chef José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen is by feeding the hungry on a daily basis. Because, trust me, all it takes for widespread violence to prevail is for a bunch of hungry, hopeless young men to begin scavenging for food.
As the famous quote from Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth says,
Hunger makes a thief of any man.
That’s where we are focusing our relief efforts: providing food and water, medical assistance, and hope to hundreds of people on a daily basis. And we anticipate doing this for months, if not years.
Local family members are leading our efforts. They themselves have suffered unimaginable loss; yet they are committed to “helping those who are less fortunate.”
They are (L-R) my brother Bishop Joseph L. Hall, JP, founder of Life Changing Ministries (I kid you not) and associate director of The Bahama Technical Cadet Corps Programme; my sister Dr. Maureen Hall, MD, Associate Professor at Ross University School of Medicine; and our niece Dr. Tamarra Moss, MD, DM, Pediatric specialist at Lucayan Medical Centre.
By the sheer grace of God, they have a generator providing power to one of the very few kitchens left standing on the island of Grand Bahama.
Like me, my big sister Esther is camera shy (e.g., we both shun social media like the plague). But “the Bishop” persuaded her that being videotaped doing her part (as master chef) will help our relief efforts. That’s the Bishop narrating. And he was right.
The needs are clearly overwhelming. And big NGOs appear to be doing a lot. Therefore, your donation might seem like just a drop in the Caribbean Sea.
But, trust me, every dollar counts. Every hot meal or emergency medical care you can help us provide will mean the world to that poor soul whose life has just been utterly shattered, leaving her and her family with nothing but the flood-soaked clothes they were wearing when Dorian struck.
Again, every cent you donate through this portal will go directly to this life-sustaining cause. I will provide a fuller report on Sunday, September 22. In the meantime, I beg you to continue giving all you can.
[Update September 16 at 6:50 am: I am no longer accepting donations for Dorian relief. Please donate for that purpose to The Bahamas Red Cross – here.]