November 8, 2019
MDS to Respond to Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas
WINNIPEG, Man. & LITITZ, Pa. — For Kevin King, the destruction left behind in the Bahamas by Hurricane Dorian was “unbelievable.”
“As far as one could see, everything was destroyed or damaged,” he said of his early October assessment trip to that island country. “People were traumatized.”
King visited the two northern islands, the Grand Bahamas and Abaco, that received the most damage.
He was there together with Willie Reimer, a former Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada staff member from Winnipeg, to do an assessment about whether MDS should respond to the huge needs in the Bahamas.
The visit was made under the terms of an agreement with MCC that allows MDS to take the lead in response to an international disaster requiring expertise in reconstruction and repair, if MCC decides to relinquish its lead role.
As a result of the assessment, MDS has decided to contribute donations received for Hurricane Dorian to two church-related groups working in that country.
A total of $60,000 U.S./$78,885 CDN will be given to Bahamas Methodist Habitat and the Salvation Army. The funds will be used for materials, training, generators and other ways to assist with their recovery and reconstruction efforts. Additional funds could be made available in the future.
“It’s a very unusual situation for us,” said King, noting MDS only works in Canada, the U.S. and U.S. territories like Saipan or Puerto Rico.
As a result of the assessment, King says the best way MDS can help is by supporting local organizations in the Bahamas.
“Groups that are helping are overwhelmed,” he says. “They can use our support.”
Best of all, he adds, they have local people willing to volunteer, and they know the situation on the ground. “The best way we can be of assistance is by supporting their efforts.”
Of those who donated, King says he is grateful.
“The donations from people across North America show once again how we want to respond as Christians to those affected by natural disasters,” he says.
“Now those donations will be put to good use by partners in the Bahamas who are happy with the support from MDS supporters in the U.S. and Canada.”
Dorian made landfall in the Bahamas on September 1 as a category five hurricane. It was the worst storm to ever hit the island country. Damage is in the billions of dollars, and at least 65 people were killed.
MDS continues to monitor the effects of the storm in the U.S. and Canada, including on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
John Longhurst, MDS Canada
