Hurricane Dorian latest: Massive flooding unleashed across Bahamas as people urged to find flotation devices

Katy Clifton2 September 2019

Hurricane Dorian has caused massive flooding across the Bahamas, pounding the islands with so much wind and water that people were urged to find flotation devices and grab hammers to break out of their attics if necessary.

The Category 4 storm slowed almost to a standstill as it shredded roofs, hurled cars and forced even rescue crews to take shelter until the onslaught passed.

Officials said they received a "tremendous" number of calls from people in flooded homes in the Bahamas. Forecasters warned that Dorian could generate a storm surge as high as 23ft.

Police Chief Samuel Butler urged people to remain calm and share their GPS co-ordinates, but said rescue crews had to wait until weather conditions improved.

Hurricane Dorian slams into St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
CASSANDRA CRICHLOW via REUTERS

It comes as Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for the US states of Georgia and South Carolina due to the hurricane.

The US president approved the declarations on Sunday and the White House announced them on Monday. Mr Trump approved an emergency declaration for Florida on Friday.

The declarations authorise the Federal Emergency Management Agency to co-ordinate disaster relief efforts.

He urged everyone in Dorian's path to obey warnings and evacuation orders issued by local authorities, saying public safety "must always come first"

Donald Trump
AFP/Getty Images

On Abaco Island, parliament member Renward Wells said he received reports of casualties but officials had not been able to confirm them.

By midday on Monday, the storm's top sustained winds fell slightly to 155mph, and it was crawling along Grand Bahama Island at just 1mph.

On Sunday, Dorian churned over Abaco Island with battering winds and surf and heavy flooding.

Hurricane Dorian - In pictures

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Parliament member Darren Henfield described the damage as "catastrophic" and said officials did not have information on what happened in nearby cays. "We are in search-and-recovery mode. Continue to pray for us."

A spokesman for Bahamas Power and Light said there was a blackout in New Providence, the archipelago's most populous island. He said the company's office on Abaco Ssland was flattened.

Spokesman Quincy Parker said: "The reports out of Abaco, as everyone knows, were not good."

Most people went to shelters as the storm neared. Tourist hotels shut down, and residents boarded up their homes. Many people were expected to be left homeless.

On Sunday, Dorian's maximum sustained winds reached 185mph, with gusts up to 220mph, tying the record for the most powerful Atlantic hurricane to make landfall.

Hurricane Dorian as it approaches the Bahamas
AFP/Getty Images

That equalled the Labour Day hurricane of 1935, before storms were named. The only recorded storm that was more powerful was Hurricane Allen in 1980, with 190mph winds, although it did not make landfall at that strength.

Bahamas homes are required to have metal reinforcements for roof beams to withstand winds into the upper limits of a Category 4 hurricane, and compliance is generally tight for those who can afford it.

Strong wind from Hurricane Dorian
AP

Risks are higher in poorer neighbourhoods that have wooden homes in low-lying areas.

Forecasters said Dorian is likely to begin pulling away from the Bahamas early on Tuesday to curve to the north east parallel to the south-eastern coast of the US.

The system is expected to spin 40 to 50 miles off Florida with hurricane-force wind speeds extending about 35 miles to the west.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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