Hurricane Dorian recently ripped through the southeastern coast causing schools to be canceled, houses evacuated and lives and homes destroyed. Hurricane Dorian formed August 28 and hit the Virgin Islands. Two days later, Dorian became a category four storm and was on a route to hit the Carolinas. The Bahamas were hit hard by Dorian when it made landfall Sept. 1 as a category five hurricane with 185 mph winds. The destructive hurricane was the strongest the Bahamas have seen in eighty years with winds up to 185 mph and 43 lives were taken. Two days later the U.S. sent aid to the Bahamas. 

 “From day one, the United States was in our territory assisting us with all of our needs. Had it not been for the United States we would not have been advanced this far in the entire process,” said Hubert Minnis, Bahamas Prime Minister.

Hurricane Dorian arrived in North Carolina as a category one with 90 mph winds Sept. 6. UNCW was evacuated and Wake County Public schools were canceled  Sept. 5 and 6 and 3 people died in North Carolina. About 800 people were trapped on Ocracoke Island due to ferries not being in use. Two state highways in Sampson County were flooded but recently reopened. NCDOT reported that the cleanup and repairing of roads in North Carolina will cost $40 million to $50 million dollars.

During Hurricane Dorian, two North Carolina special elections occurred Sept. 10. Despite the weather, state election officials were determined to make sure the elections took place on Tuesday Sept. 10.

“Voting will take place despite the challenges the hurricane presente

d,” said  Karen Bell. North Carolina State Board of Elections executive director. To make up for the chaos caused by the hurricane, officials added extra hours to vote in many counties in North Carolina.

The Eastern Caribbean islands are vulnerable to hurricanes. Their geographical location puts them in a prime danger zone. The Bahamas are a developing country and that leaves them to be even more vulnerable. Two Hurricanes pass by The Bahamas each year on average, and one makes direct landfall every four years. The Bahamas have shelters for these storms and the locals advise to keep a flashlight with batteries, non-perishable food and a first aid kit on hand.    

As of September 8 Dorian was no longer a hurricane, but is currently classified as a post-tropical cyclone, and is expected to make landfall in Canada. Dorian took 50 lives overall,

and caused millions of dollars in damage. North Carolina’s damage was significant, but the damage in the Bahamas was much greater. As areas affected by Dorian continue to recover, help is still given to The Bahamas with 2,500 people still missing and the death toll is expected to rise.