Death toll expected to rise substantially
Pictures coming out of the Bahamas are devastating, it looks like the place was leveled. Wind and water were completely unobstructed, there was nothing to hold back either.
Some of these islands were formed by volcanic eruptions that formed mountainous topography, others (like the Bahamas) aren’t much more than large sand bars.
When searching for a new home in the Caribbean, I was surprised by how different things are from place to place. During Maria, I thanked God my home was protected on three sides by the surrounding hillsides. In the Bahamas there wasnt much to hide behind.
Although having a Cat5 hover directly over you for more than two full days would surely test the limits of anything made by man... or God.
20 and more feet of storm surge and water with a Cat 5 pounding on you for 40 hours is horrific, especially when you're on flat land
We've been thru 4 Cat 5's in the VI
These Bahamian people impacted by Dorian may never recover.
Hurricane season has just begun with a wrath.
many survivors said they are not going back. Some of the out islands in Abacos are only a few hundred yards across if that and not far above sea level.
It wouldn’t surprise me if some of those outer islands are no longer there.
One more big hurricane and the VI will start to empty out too.
I think it's already starting to happen slowly, but surely.
vicanuck: I agree with you that lots of people are leaving. However, there will always be new people arriving to take their place. The reasons that the USVI is popular- US territory, "easy" lifestyle, great climate, beautiful beaches- will continue to draw people. The high cost of living, the rampant corruption, the lack of will to change will also continue.
I think many of the 70,000 displaced people from the Bahamas will end up in the US as a humanitarian issue. It seems they should be ferried to Nassau while the government figures out what to do, but it's easier to go to Ft Lauderdale. They also should be vetted, but probably won't be.
When I moved to the VI, people had been coming from down island for 20+ years. Then they started coming from the DR and Haiti. Given the chances for a good future in Port au Prince vs. the US, there will always be movement of people. And stateside folk used to come down when the economy was bad in the US, go back when it improved...
Dorian was a hundred year event for the Bahama’s, maybe more. The combination of a Category 5 storm and the fact it was stationary for almost 2 days is almost beyond imagination. It’s a miracle anything or anyone survived. I’m afraid the full impact isn’t yet visible.
how could it not rise. a few shanty towns, a lot of stateside built houses and storm surges of 20+ feet .
Posted by: @jaldeborghDorian was a hundred year event for the Bahama’s, maybe more. The combination of a Category 5 storm and the fact it was stationary for almost 2 days is almost beyond imagination. It’s a miracle anything or anyone survived. I’m afraid the full impact isn’t yet visible.
Nah. Once upon a time, this was a hundred year event. This is the new norm, beyond imagination is going to get very imaginable...
Sorry, I’m an optimist and I don’t accept that the sky is falling. The data is clear that since good records have been kept, the the numbers of super storms in the Caribbean has been relatively consistent.
The risk is real but life is short. I’ve personally placed my bet (by buying a home) and will be spending a lot of time on St. Croix through the remainder of my life.
Where would the cable news networks be if the sky wasn’t falling?
Its a shame so many people are living in constant fear today. Life is a precious gift, get out there and live it to the fullest.
I even used a plastic straw today, and I don’t feel guilty at all!
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