A DV I cE
GET READY ELEUTHERA Hurricane season opens June 1 and every homeowner in Eleuthera should be prepared by now in the event of a major storm. The first tropical storm of the year Arthur – formed north of the Bahamas even before the season opened. I hate to sound pessimistic, but 2020 saw the hottest January on record and February was the second hottest. March 2020 was about three degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the average between 1981 and 2010. And April ranks as the second hottest on record. What’s even more worrying is the ocean surface temperatures are the highest on record. And that, my friends, is something to take note of. Heat is like throwing fat on the fire of any storm that may come this way. Don’t wait for June 1. If you haven’t done so already, NOW is the time to get ready, stock up and make evacuation plans. It seems like only yesterday Hurricane Dorian slammed into our northern islands, unleashing a fury never witnessed by a living soul in the Bahamas. The catastrophic monster utterly devastated areas of Abaco and Grand Bahama - even worse than the terrible damage wrought by Hurricane Andrew on Eleuthera in 1992. Although unharmed, the people of Eleuthera – both Bahamians and our friends from abroad – carry vivid memories of the Dorian aftermath. Who will forget the images of shellshocked Dorian survivors arriving in North Eleuthera clutching bags or cardboard boxes with their pitiful few possessions and their traumatized pets? The distressing events from the north touched off a superhuman relief effort by the people of Eleuthera as waves of refugees arrived by air and boat. The people of Abaco and Grand Bahama
Commentary-
continue to struggle to return to a sense of normalcy, many of them still without homes, electricity and potable water. Start planning now!
You Know You Need: You know you need AT LEAST a two-week supply of potable water, nonperishable food, pet food and any prescription medicine you may take. You know you should secure all government issued ID and important papers in a waterproof bag and other valuables, including photographs, before a hurricane hits. You must also make evacuation plans, especially if you live on the coast, in low lying areas prone to flooding or if your roof or structure are compromised. And you must help make plans for the old and infirmed who are unable to help themselves. If you are able to, consult with a professional about investing in a generator or solar system, if you don’t already have a stand-by power system. At a minimum, you want to be able to keep a fridge and freezer running, along with a couple of lights and a fan or two and power to any water pump you may rely on. Generators must be secured above flood level, as well as vehicles. The Good News: The good news is that many homes built in compliance with the Bahamas’ strict building codes withstood Dorian’s wrath. These homes were well maintained and high enough off the ground to withstand damage from storm surge or flooding. Post Hurricane Dorian building inspections revealed that in many instances, ‘basic’ building components didn’t meet the building code, according to Craig Delancey, the building control officer in the Ministry of Works.
Ronald Sanders
ment collectively reiterated their concern over “the enhanced sanctions announced by the US Government” and they denounced as “unjustifiable” the application of laws and measures of an extraterritorial nature that are contrary to international law.
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They did not choose Cuba over the U.S. They chose international law, hemispheric cooperation, and peace - principles to which the region’s people are devoted.
21 May 2020 Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com (The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own) Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com
May/June, 2020
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By Mike Lightbourn
A team of private architects, engineers and contractors, along with members of building control, carried out in depth inspections of some of the damaged buildings. They found that many buildings damaged or destroyed didn’t comply with the code; some didn’t even comply with basic building codes. A lot of the buildings destroyed were old buildings with rotten, termite infested wood and corroded roof anchor bolts and hurricane clips. Structural defects were also uncovered during inspections. YOU control how well your home is maintained. If you have concerns, hire a reputable building inspector, an engineer or an experienced builder if possible to find out if your home meets the standard.
Questions or comments? Contact me at info@cbbahamas.com Mike Lightbourn is president of Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty.