The government of the Bahamas has declared the all clear with Hurricane Matthew's passing but now the serious clean-up and damage repair begins, especially for Nassau/New Providence, Andros, and Grand Bahama.
Nassau International airport is closed today, Friday Oct. 7, but they are working to have it open by tomorrow. Atlantis Resort, largest resort in the Bahamas, located on Paradise Island, has all workers returning to a normal schedule today. The Beach Tower is closed, however, due to generator failure. Overall, it will take several days, at least, to have all power restored on New Providence Island. The south side of the island was hit particularly hard with the storm surge, with lots of people not able to return to their homes in that part of the island. Downed trees and power lines need clearing and repairs all over New Providence. From a tourism standpoint, it should take at least a week before things get more or less back to normal, but even then parts of the island will need ongoing work and repairs, and some services will be lacking.
We still haven't had any definitive reports from our many friends on Andros, so trying to be in touch with a number of them today. Will update when we know more, but Andros was hit very hard by the hurricane, with winds and big storm surges.
Grand Bahama and Freeport also took a direct hit, with storm surges on south side of the island doing a lot of damage. Freeport Airport is closed today, looking to reopen as soon as possible, but situation is similar to New Providence with lots of water damage, trees and power lines down, roofs blown off of houses and businesses. If you have travel plans to Grand Bahama any time in the next week, you should probably reconsider, but if you go, be aware that many services will be lacking, and people will be in the middle of clean-up and repairs.
On the positive side, most of the southern Bahamas escaped the storm without too much damage. Inagua, Mayaguana, Crooked and Acklins, Long Island, the Exumas are all reporting only minor damage, with clean-up work in progress, and normal tourism operations should begin again this coming week. Southern Eluthera suffered storm surge damage and flooding, but reports are hopeful that things can return to normal in a week or so. Northern Eluthera and Abaco, overall came through well, with some wind and water damage but tourist operations are expected to continue this coming week.
Nassau International airport is closed today, Friday Oct. 7, but they are working to have it open by tomorrow. Atlantis Resort, largest resort in the Bahamas, located on Paradise Island, has all workers returning to a normal schedule today. The Beach Tower is closed, however, due to generator failure. Overall, it will take several days, at least, to have all power restored on New Providence Island. The south side of the island was hit particularly hard with the storm surge, with lots of people not able to return to their homes in that part of the island. Downed trees and power lines need clearing and repairs all over New Providence. From a tourism standpoint, it should take at least a week before things get more or less back to normal, but even then parts of the island will need ongoing work and repairs, and some services will be lacking.
We still haven't had any definitive reports from our many friends on Andros, so trying to be in touch with a number of them today. Will update when we know more, but Andros was hit very hard by the hurricane, with winds and big storm surges.
Grand Bahama and Freeport also took a direct hit, with storm surges on south side of the island doing a lot of damage. Freeport Airport is closed today, looking to reopen as soon as possible, but situation is similar to New Providence with lots of water damage, trees and power lines down, roofs blown off of houses and businesses. If you have travel plans to Grand Bahama any time in the next week, you should probably reconsider, but if you go, be aware that many services will be lacking, and people will be in the middle of clean-up and repairs.
On the positive side, most of the southern Bahamas escaped the storm without too much damage. Inagua, Mayaguana, Crooked and Acklins, Long Island, the Exumas are all reporting only minor damage, with clean-up work in progress, and normal tourism operations should begin again this coming week. Southern Eluthera suffered storm surge damage and flooding, but reports are hopeful that things can return to normal in a week or so. Northern Eluthera and Abaco, overall came through well, with some wind and water damage but tourist operations are expected to continue this coming week.
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