October 1999 Table of Contents

Hurricane Floyd hit the island of Abaco on 14th September with sustained winds officially estimated at 140 mph. The large eye of the storm passed over every settlement on the island. Very, very few homes and other buildings escaped some damage from the storm.

It should be borne in mind that The Bahamas has stringent building codes designed to minimise damage from a severe hurricane. (After Hurricane Andrew hit Homestead, Florida, the South Florida Building Code was changed to resemble that of The Bahamas.) Modern structures that were inland and not hit by trees survived very well, some showing very little in the way of damage except for the loss of a few roofing tiles.

The greatest damage was caused by tidal surges and flooding rather than wind. Low-lying coastal settlements were worst affected. Total devastation was reserved for old and inferior buildings, or those built in the wrong place.

Much of the expense in getting back to normal will entail replacing almost the total contents of homes. People on Abaco are going through the mind-numbing, back-aching, tear-inducing task of throwing out virtually everything they ever owned.

Very few places on Abaco had electricity or running water following Hurricane Floyd. Telephone service was minimal. Out Island Internet provided sterling service to the Abaco community and for a while was the only reliable way for members of the public to get news out of the island. The number of incoming enquiries swamped the board.

All of the major utility corporations on Abaco have been working at full stretch to restore effectiveness. Unfortunately, Abaco is an extraordinarily complex total community.

Abaconians will never forget the outpouring of support that Hurricane Floyd engendered. Second home owners, winter residents and regular visitors produced their own tidal surge of love and concern.