The need for supplies in the Bahamas is overwhelming after the devastation Hurricane Dorian left behind. By air and sea, donations are going to the Bahamas from around the world. Our crew went on a cruise ship packed with supplies bound for the islands.
Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas set sale to Freeport, Bahamas Friday delivering 20,000 meals to people on the islands.
Crews told us they will also work with Bahamian agencies to bring evacuees on board the ship. They will get a hot meal and medical attention. Then, they will travel to Nassau in the Bahamas.
As of 9 a.m., supplies were unloaded and distributed to the National Emergency Management Agency. Many of the meals were given to local churches.
The ship is now en route to Nassau with nearly 261 evacuees, many of them children, some of whom are from a Freeport orphanage.
We will continue to update this story with all of the information we receive as the meals are delivered and evacuees are transported.
UPDATE as of 9 p.m. Saturday, some Bahamians were having trouble accessing shelters. Relief efforts continue in the wake of Dorian, which is still active along the coast of Nova Scotia as a hurricane-force, post-tropical cyclone.
If there’s another word for heartbreaking, this was it. These are some of the nearly 300 people we’re told took a private boat to Nassau from the Abacos today. What they are carrying is all they have. Many don’t know where they will sleep tonight. @winknews #BahamasRelief pic.twitter.com/tFndU5MkM0
— Brooke Shafer (@BrookeWINKNews) September 8, 2019
WATCH the video at the top of the story for the full story by WINK News Reporter Brooke Shafer.
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Just learned some of the children on board to Nassau are from a Freeport orphanage. Official evacuee count 261.
— Brooke Shafer (@BrookeShaferTV) September 7, 2019
These are the boxes of food @RoyalCaribbean volunteers put together last night. 20,000 meals will be distributed in #Freeport today before taking evacuees to Nassau. @winknews pic.twitter.com/AhyPiYNegu
— Brooke Shafer (@BrookeShaferTV) September 7, 2019
The first of the supplies are being unloaded off the ship in #Freeport. Bahamian agencies working now to approve evacuees that will board ship and head to Nassau. @winknews #BahamasStrong pic.twitter.com/o2EQrSyQ38
— Brooke Shafer (@BrookeShaferTV) September 7, 2019
We are docked in Freeport and waiting to unload the ship with supplies. @winknews #BahamasStrong pic.twitter.com/XjQPXx0V1L
— Brooke Shafer (@BrookeShaferTV) September 7, 2019
WINK News is getting a special look at much needed supplies being prepped for delivery in #Freeport tomorrow. These @RoyalCaribbean crew members have volunteered their time, when they could be sleeping, to get this ready. Amazing. @winknews pic.twitter.com/3d0jr2izqQ
— Brooke Shafer (@BrookeShaferTV) September 7, 2019
Incredible. These are some of the 20,000 meals getting prepared for #Freeport. @RoyalCaribbean will drop them off tomorrow morning before picking up evacuees to take to Nassau. These are some of the first rescue missions after #HurricaneDorian @winknews pic.twitter.com/zvDnWaiAW2
— Brooke Shafer (@BrookeShaferTV) September 7, 2019
We are setting sail with @RoyalCaribbean on our way to the #Bahamas. This ship is expected to deliver 20,000 meals to #Freeport. We’ll be there the whole way. @winknews pic.twitter.com/C8ZNtU4GhA
— Brooke Shafer (@BrookeShaferTV) September 6, 2019
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