Hurricane Dorian survivors in Bahamas show resilience

Marsh Harbour faces task of removing about 1.5 million pounds of debris

MARSH HARBOUR, Bahamas – Bahamians celebrated Steven Gardiner's victory in the 400-meter dash at the World Athletics Championships Friday night in Doha, Qatar. 

"Hurricane Dorian was very devastating for my family and my island," Gardiner told reporters after winning the gold medal.

Dorian flattened Gardiner's family home on the Abaco Islands. Bahamian authorities said the destructive Category 5 storm left about 1.5 billion pounds of debris ​​​​​​in Marsh Harbour, Abaco's center of commerce.

Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas celebrates winning gold in the Men's 400 meters final during day eight of 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium on Oct. 04, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Like Gardiner, Marsh Harbour​​​'s community leaders are aiming to tackle a gargantuan challenge. There are some survivors who are not waiting for the government to clean up, and they have already started removing debris themselves. 

Despite the financial loss and a weakened workforce, the owners of Maxwell's Supermarket on busy Stratton Drive are aiming to reopen on Dec. 1.

In the meantime, the nonprofit sector is also stepping up to help. World Central Kitchen, celebrity chef José Andrés' nonprofit, is devoted to delivering meals to the struggling survivors.

Sam Bloch, the director of field operations for World Central Kitchen, said the group is operating out of a kitchen in Nassau and distributing the meals with the help of helicopters. Bloch said the organization has served 700,000 meals since the storm hit Sept. 1.


About the Authors:

Five-time Emmy Award-winning newscaster Calvin Hughes anchors WPLG-Local 10's 4, 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.