Residents Prepare As SE Bahamas Gets Battered By Irene
NASSAU (CBS4) – Parts of the Bahamas is getting battered by Hurricane Irene, now a major Category 3 storm with top winds of 115 mph, and residents are preparing before the storm hits their area.
While South Florida is out of danger, the southeastern Bahamas are experiencing hurricane conditions Wednesday as the eye of the storm headed for Crooked Island and Acklins Island.
Stephen Russell, director of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Center said he was particularly concerned about residents in low lying areas in those islands who are resisting the appeal to evacuate.
He told CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald, "They are right in the direct path of a Category 3 storm, but there has been resistance. We are trying to let them know what they are up against. People have been in their homes for years and they don't feel comfortable anywhere else." He said some people began heeding the appeal Wednesday morning.
About 111 people had already turned to shelters, he said. There had been no reports of injuries or fatalities Wednesday morning.
In Nassau, meantime, preparations are still underway.
"I'm going to batten up some windows," said Steve Mortimor. "I have two French door and I have to batten them up to avoid water getting in."
Plywood is flying off the shelves in Nassau as people heed the warnings.
"I'm buying some plywood to batten down the windows, just want to make sure my family is safe," said Mable Cox.
The Bahamian Government is urging people to have their homes ready by Wednesday afternoon.
In the heart of the shopping district on Bay Street, store owners have also been getting their businesses ready.
Andrew Forsythe has several stores. He took down hanging signs so they don't fly away in the wind. He, like many other businesses, have put up plywood and shutters, and put down sand bags in effort to avoid his business from flooding.
"My plan is to leave Bay Street about 2 o'clock because we should start getting Tropical Storm force winds a little after that," Forsythe told CBS4's Ted Scouten who is in Nassau covering the storm.
For some businesses, like Senior Frogs which juts out over the water, getting prepared is not easy. After Hurricane Frances in 2004, the inside of the restaurant looked like a beach because so much sand and water had blown inside. Also, the storm took off the roof.
"There's a concrete structure here, when the water gets in the only way for it to go is up. You provide a path for the water and you won't lose the entire deck," said Senior Frog's Chester Williams.
Many people in Nassau are taking the threat of Irene seriously; they're concerned by its size and power and they know very well that Irene, like any hurricane, can pack some surprises along with a nasty punch.
"A hurricane has its own mind. You just hope that they go exactly where the forecast is predicted, but sometimes they have their own mind, they go one way and then come back again," said Mortimor who is preparing for the storm.
With the breeze already picking up in Nassau, airport officials are keeping a very close eye on the winds. When the wind reaches 40 mph, the airports shutdown. That's why hotel guests at Atlantis Paradise Island and other hotels were told to try and leave the island. Most tourists left the islands. Many of those left behind couldn't get a flight out.
"At the time I called they said now we are ready to book, but everything is booked and they had no other option," said Hilmar Floeh.
Those who couldn't get off the islands will have to find shelter; many hotel guests will ride out the storm in the hotel ballrooms during the storm.
Cruise ships have already left the port in Nassau and won't be back until after the storm passes.
