PTF Continues to Deliver Relief Supplies to the Bahamas to Support Recovery from Hurricane Matthew
January 18th, 2017
The Pathfinders Task Force (PTF) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) has just delivered another $30,000 of emergency relief supplies to the Bahamas in support of the recovery from Hurricane Matthew. The Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received the goods last week during a press conference in Freeport, Grand Bahamas and thanked PTF and LDS for their continued support.
The donated supplies to date now total over $275,000, which has included food, water, roofing material, and other items that will bring relief to the severely impacted communities on Grand Bahamas, Andros, and New Providence islands. In October, 2016, Hurricane Matthew impacted the Bahamas as a Category 4 storm and caused catastrophic damage to local infrastructure and private residences. Many communities are still struggling with various issues, making the incoming relief supplies a welcome sight.
“We’ve initially just focused on the first couple of days after every storm. Hurricanes Jean and Francis really had us working. Since then we’ve become sort of trusted by US organizations to ensure that the donations get to the right people that really need them,” says Scott Lewis, Incident Commander for the Pathfinders Task Force.
“We rode out Matthew in New Providence in NEMA’s headquarters at the national EOC and I believe we were the first team on the ground here in Freeport two days after the storm. We also were flew relief crews and supplies into Andros right after the storm,” said Lewis.
Tammi Mitchell, NEMA’s Warehouse Manager in Grand Bahama promised to ensure that the items donated get distributed to persons on the list given to them by the Department of Social Services.
Minister for Grand Bahama, The Hon. Dr. Michael Darville was also in attendance. He thanked the Pathfinder’s Task Force along with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on behalf of NEMA, the Minister responsible for Recovery and Restoration the Hon Shane Gibson, and the residents of Grand Bahama.
“What has happened, is that after Hurricane Matthew, they are still donating supplies that are being used by many residents, who find themselves in need. They are working in conjunction with Social Services as well as the Urban Renewal group and these supplies that have been donated today will go a long way,” he said.
Darville said that normally after the initial thrust of assistance following a hurricane, the donations fall off. He said he is particularly appreciative because donations are still coming in from organizations such as PTF and LDS.
To download the PTF Hurricane Matthew AAR, please visit www.disastersolutions.cc/history
To review local news coverage of the press conference, please visit http://www.ewfrelief.org/casestudies
For more information, please contact Matthew Campbell at (561) 329–0068 or matt@pathfinders.cc
