Our First Scare

By: Allison Almazan, Sophomore

After preparing for nearly a week, Florida successfully avoided Hurricane Dorian’s uncertain impact. Even though it didn’t have a major impact on the Sunshine State, it affected the Bahamas like no hurricane before. According to The Weather Channel, this extremely powerful, long-lived and destructive cyclone devastated the northwestern Bahamas and also caused significant damage to the Southeastern United States and Atlantic Canada.

Figure 1 Hurricane Dorian over the Abaco Islands on September 1stimage from Tampa Bay Times

Weather.com states that Dorian started as a tropical wave, on August 24, in the Atlantic but it started intensifying and suddenly became a hurricane on August 28. Dorian began to gain strength and suddenly became a major Category 5 hurricane. Hours later, Dorian started weakening and made landfall on the Grand Bahamas. After moving over the Bahamas, from September 1st to September 3rd, Dorian slowed its movement and stayed north of the Grand Bahamas Island. After hitting the island, the hurricane slowly moved towards the Southeast United States. Floridians started preparing for Dorian since the news predicted it would have devastating impact. Everyone rushed to buy gasoline, water, and hurricane supplies in preparation for the storm. As CBS Miami reported “Across the state, store shelves are emptying. Homeowners are preparing, filling up sandbags and installing hurricane resistant windows and doors.” The panic of the Florida residents could be seen in all the empty shelves of the stores.

Consequently, Hurricane Dorian “gave student in Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Florida International University a Four-day weekend” reported The Miami Herald. However, it only hit South Florida (where?) as a category 2 hurricane reports usnews.com, causing minimum damage. 

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Figure 2 shows the Bahamas before and after Hurricane Dorian. Image from The New York Times

On the contrary, the Bahamas aren’t as lucky as Florida is. CNN reported that, “Dorian flattened homes after it made landfall September 1, killing at least 50 people, officials said. The death toll is expected to go up as search and rescue crews scour the ruins in Grand Bahamas and Abaco Islands.” This powerful storm devastated a whole island, leaving around 76,000 people homeless and in need of help reported ABC News. 

Many Floridians and some institutions and schools such as iPreparatory Academy decided to help their neighbors in the Bahamas by donating leftover supplies they did not use after the hurricane. “Floridians showed up in droves on Tuesday to give cans of food, bottles of water and boxes of diapers” reported The Guardian. At IPrep Academy, a flyer, sponsored by the Student Government and PTSA, was distributed to all the students and their parents to gain their support in helping Bahamians.  The flyer asked for some supplies like Diapers, Hygiene products, canned goods, and more. The students and faculty at iPrep were able to collect a ton of items to aid our neighbors in need.

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Figure 3 The Flyer that was shared among parents and students.

As a result of the devastation Dorian left, compassion and empathy has sprung forth from IPrep. “We collected supplies for approximately 2 weeks and they should be now arriving to the Grand Bahamas,” Mr. Sultz states. He also explains that IPrep Academy is working together with a warehouse in Wynwood called Third Wave Volunteers which are working with the fire department and other organizations to collect and deliver all the supplies. Ms. Sanders, the faculty member in charge of the donations, stated that they’ve already sent 4 airplanes to the Bahamas and are planning to send another one by September 17th. This catastrophe affected the Bahamas unlike any hurricane before, leaving the majority of people living on the island, without a home, food, or anything but hope to be able to bounce back. iPrep students and the rest of Florida hope that all the supplies they’ve contributed can help as many people who were affected by this disaster as they can.Our hearts and prayers go out to our neighbors in the Bahamas. 

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Works Cited:
​Alexa Lardieri, Staff Writer. “Florida Feels Effects of Hurricane Dorian, Weather Warnings Expand
           North” U.S.News.Usnews.com 4 Sept 2019.
Colleen Wright. “Find out which schools, colleges and universities are closing for Hurricane Dorian”
           Miami Herald. Miamiherald.com. 30 Aug 2019.
Faith Karimi and Chandler Thornton. “1,300 people are listed as missing nearly 2 weeks after
           Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas” CNN. Cnn.com 12 Sept 2019.
​Joan Murray “Florida Residents Stocking Up On Supplies Ahead Of Hurricane Dorian’s Arrival” CBS
           Miami. Miami.cbslocal.com 29 Aug 2019.
Joanna Walters “Floridians send aid to Bahamas as Hurricane Dorian heads for Carolinas” The
           Guardian.Theguardian.com 4 Sept 2019.
Marcus Moore, Brandon Baur, and Bill Hutchinson. “Thousands of Dorian survivors desperate to
           evacuate wrecked Bahamas as death toll climbs to 50” abcNews. Abcmews.com 9 Sep 2019.
Meteorologists. “Hurricane Dorian Ravaged the Bahamas and Struck the Southeastern U.S. Coast  
           Before Heading to Atlantic Canada (RECAP).” The Weather Channel. Weather.com.
           8 Sept 2019.