Now that Hurricane Dorian is gone, it is time to look back on how much it affected everyone. The Bahamas were hit the hardest for sure. The destruction there is catastrophic, and many people are still missing under piles of rubble and destruction. It will cost billions of dollars in damage, and that is if the islands remain at peace for a few years, without another storm wiping them out as well.
To recap what exactly caused this catastrophe to occur, a high pressure system to the north, known as the Bermuda High, kept Hurricane Dorian from turning north into the waters of the Atlantic. While the Bermuda High kept Dorian on the track to the Bahamas, a high pressure system moving slowly across the southern states slowed Hurricane Dorian down to a crawling 1 mph for 48 hours straight. As a result, the islands of the Bahamas endured 170 mph winds for 48 hours.
As of Sunday, Sept. 8, 44 people have lost their life in the Bahamas. This number continues to grow as the days progress, and more rubble is uncovered. It is estimated that more than 70,000 people are left without food and shelter as a result of the storm. Many people may ask, “What can I do as an individual to help?” Donations to the American Red Cross are always accepted as they tend to those in need in the Bahamas. You never know what these people are going through until you experience it.
The Bahamas are not out of the woods yet, however. Because of their location in the Atlantic, hurricanes frequently scoot by, and sometimes hit the islands every year. This is early in the time known as hurricane season, and so the best thing to do is sit back and pray that these people get the relief time they need. Two areas have just been put on watch in the Atlantic Ocean for possible tropical activity, similar to the areas that Dorian began its track.
The Rambler asked fellow student Dorian Crosby on his thoughts on the destructive storm, considering the storm is named the same as his. He had this to say about it: “Well, I think it is one of the biggest hurricanes in history and to have the same name as me is something I wasn’t ready for, but I’m praying for the people who the hurricane hit.”
