Storm Evacuee: “I’m Excited To Get Back Home”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Evacuees from the southern islands gathered at the Kendal G.L Issacs gym Friday for transportation to the Lynden Pindling International Airport, to return to their islands.

However, persons there encountered some issues according evacuee Chesney Hanna.

Chesney Hanna – Evacuee, Inagua

“We came in a little earlier, [and] I think it was like 8:39 o’clock to [when we] arrived here at the gym, [and] we had to sign up again for the tenth time…”

Chesney Hanna is apart of more than 1400 Bahamians who were evacuated from the southern islands earlier this week due to Hurricane Melissa.

He says he got a text from the Disaster Risk Management Authority Friday morning, advising that return flights begin on Friday.

Hanna says they were told to meet at the gym for 10 a.m, but claims that more than two hours later, they had not received confirmed flight times.

We spoke to a frustrated Hanna around midday Friday, and he insists that a lack of communication created a frustrating situation.

Making the situation even more unbearable is that evacuees were not even given water to drink, according to the Inagua native.

Chairman of the Disaster Risk Management authority Alex Storr was also at the gym today, where he told Our News that heavy traffic was to blame for the late arrival of food and drinks.

As for flight schedules, he confirmed they are trying their best to organize charters, and that their goal was to get everyone out of New Providence.

“We already have flights leaving for Ragged Island airport, we’re loading buses right now for Acklins and San Salvador, and then we hope to have Mayguana, Crooked Island and Inagua on the schedule,” Storr said.

Although some expressed frustration, evacuees like Dennis Burnside said he and his family are grateful for the measures taken by the government, and can’t wait to return home.

“Well I’m excited to get back home knowing that nothing happened, you know what I mean, I’m excited to get back home to get back to work.”

Friday afternoon, State Minister responsible for Disaster Risk Management, Leon Lundy, confirmed that returning flights began Friday.