hurricane floyd pm

November 1999 Table of Contents

HURRICANE FLOYD REPORT

On 13th October Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham delivered an 84-page report in the House of Assembly on reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Floyd.

The Prime Minister congratulated both public and private sectors for their
teamwork during the emergency. Floyd had brought out the best in people. "During this past month I have been extremely busy, but oh so proud of our Bahamas.... I am honoured to have had the privilege to lead a government which has experienced such an outpouring of affection and friendship from the international community, seen such a demonstration of faith and resilience by our countrymen, and received such blessing from Almighty God."

Notes from the report: The national Disaster Relief Fund grew from $140,000 before Floyd to over $3 million, a sum that would go a long way to restoring the islands after the hurricane's widespread devastation.

Total insurance claims for hurricane damage are expected to exceed $400 million. Claim payments are expected to be in the region of $240 million and these costs will be borne by international reinsurers. Rather than create a drain on foreign reserves, there will be an increase in construction employment. Revenue performance will suffer a temporary reduction but this will be made up by the end of the fiscal year. The Bahamian dollar will remain strong

1,700 residences suffered damage on Abaco, including 347 that were extensively damaged. 170 of them were demolished. 35 houses were demolished on Mores Island, 30 (including resorts) on Elbow Cay, 27 in Coopers Town, 10 in Fox Town and 18 in Crossing Rocks. The Prime Minister noted that Crossing Rocks might have to be relocated. He also noted hurricane clips worked and that the painting white of asphalt shingles, as practised in Spanish Wells, led to a dramatic reduction in shingle damage.

The inevitable laying-off of employees at tourist facilities is causing a serious problem for many Bahamians employed in the industry. Fortunately, much of the lay-off time coincides with the traditional slow season and upkeep/maintenance period. Even so, the government is mindful of the human and social problems for the individuals and communities involved. The Prime Minister urged that tourism properties be restored and renovated as quickly as possible.

All future homes will be built subject to greater scrutiny to ensure that the Building Code is strictly adhered to. All homes should be insured for hurricane damage. Government has ordered $1 million worth of construction materials to be used mainly for the construction of homes for the aged, the indigent and welfare recipients. Voluntary help will be needed to accomplish these aims.

Floyd has brought home to us the realities of global warming and rising sea levels. The Bahamas would need to address on a national scale the need for beach preservation and replenishment. The most serious beach erosion occurred in south Abaco and Elbow Cay, notably at White Sound. Other islands suffered greater damage to their public infrastructure because roads and public buildings were situated near the coast. Abaco's main highways are inland and suffered little damage.

A communications system for the Family Islands must be developed and maintained that is capable of use during and after a disaster to ensure communication, not only with Nassau, but between settlements and islands. This is of particular importance when roads are impassable.

All water supplies on each Family Island will be chlorinated at the well field, and through the distribution system, including all holding tanks. Water quality was worst in the Marsh Harbour area following Floyd. The construction of septic tanks and soakaways in the Family Islands had been found to be generally inferior to those in Nassau and would be more effectively supervised in the future.

The banana crop of The Bahamas is completely destroyed and will not recover for at least nine months. "Direct financial losses to farmers and fishermen as a consequence of Hurricane Floyd have been estimated at $35 million," the Prime Minister noted. The citrus harvest for Abaco, from an estimated 3,000 acres, is lost for the season. Government will provide relief and assistance to farmers and fishermen by restoring lost income, re-establishing farm businesses and replacing fishing equipment. Abaco Big Bird poultry farm, which provides The Bahamas with 12% of Bahamian broiler production, suffered only minimal loss.

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