By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

AS Hurricane Erin edged closer to the southeastern Bahamas yesterday, island administrators insisted preparations were in place, although residents said many were taking warnings lightly and complained that their communities are often overlooked when it comes to government support.

Although Erin was not forecast to make landfall, a Tropical Storm Warning was issued for the Southeast Bahamas, including Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Samana Cay, and Long Cay. Some residents were evacuated from Samana Cay earlier this week as a precaution, though no official evacuation order was given.

On Mayaguana, Utica Lightbourne said her home was secured with impact windows, but finding basic supplies was a struggle. She said the Mail Boat had made its regular delivery, but the island relies mostly on small shops rather than major outlets.

“We rarely get any assistance with anything, as everyone knows,” she said. “We don’t have a lumber company or anything here of that sort. So most residents are left just trying to do their best to secure property. Because if we have to rely on governments to assist, I think that’s a hopeless cause there.”

Ms Lightbourne said the last time she recalled significant government support was before Hurricane Irma in 2017. Since then, she claimed, little has been done to help vulnerable residents.

Others said they are still struggling to repair storm-damaged homes, with some living under tarps or with missing shingles years later.

Mayaguana Island administrator Dierdre Fox said residents were preparing and that the island’s two shelters were ready if needed. In Acklins, Island administrator Herman Gilbert said officials were preparing to activate the island’s emergency operations centre. While the sea remained calm yesterday, he urged boaters to secure vessels and avoid going out. He said residents were stocking up on candles, water, flashlights, and other essentials.

Mr Gilbert said officials had worked tirelessly to keep people informed, but ultimately it was up to residents to take the warnings seriously.

Still, Mayaguana businessman Henry Rolle, owner of Club Rolle-X, said many were continuing life as usual despite the threat. “Folks are not taking it too seriously,” he said, while calling for a proper hurricane shelter on the island. He accused the government of being reactive rather than proactive, saying more Defence Force officers, secure water supplies, and assistance for those needing to evacuate should already be in place.

“When it comes to Acklins and Crooked Island, I think the government don’t take these areas seriously,” he said. “If they were serious about it, they would have authorities moving about and finding names of people who need assistance.”

A community centre currently serves as Mayaguana’s main hurricane shelter.

The Disaster Risk Management Authority said evacuation plans were outlined if the storm intensified. DRM managing director Aarone Sargent confirmed that incident command centres in the southern Bahamas were fully activated at noon yesterday and that shelters would only be opened on advice from the Department of Meteorology.

Over the weekend, Erin weakened from a Category 5 to a Category 3 hurricane. At press time, the Department of Meteorology reported winds of 125 mph, warning the system could strengthen again and remain dangerous through midweek.

The storm was forecast to pass east of the Southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos last night and today before turning northwest and north. Residents described calm weather yesterday, but forecasters warned of heavy rain, gusty winds, thunderstorms, hail, and possible tornadoes in the days ahead.

Professor Roelof Bruintjes, of the (US) National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), said he expected tropical storm conditions, with high waves and winds up to 50mph, to brush The Bahamas’ southeastern islands.