Relief charity Airlink is moving specialised responders to deal with the effects of Hurricane Dorian which has battered the Bahamas causing catastrophic damage with upwards of 76,000 people impacted.
On September 1, Hurricane Dorian made its first landfall on Elbow Cay, in the Abacos of the northwestern Bahamas as a Category 5 storm.
Its second landfall on Great Abaco Island near Marsh Harbour followed shortly after.
As part of its mission to mobilise the aviation community in times of disaster, Airlink began transporting relief workers to Florida and other east coast states prior to the storm’s arrival in an effort to ensure a swift response to communities in need.
“Helping our relief partners overcome transportation and logistics challenges to help impacted communities as quickly as possible is our goal,” said Airlink president and CEO Steven J. Smith. “We are extremely grateful for our donors throughout the aviation community who are making our life-saving efforts possible.”
Airlink is assisting more than 15 response partners, including Save the Children, Empact Northwest, Heart to Heart International, and World Central Kitchen.
The organisations bring a wide variety of specialisations to disaster-stricken communities and will provide search and rescue operations, medical care, safe spaces for children, food and clean water provisions, and other essential assistance.
Though growing in size, Dorian has since weakened to a Category 2 hurricane as it continues to threaten communities along the U.S. East Coast. Concerns remain over the slow-moving storm and the impact of prolonged exposure to heavy winds and rain on communities in its track.
Hurricane Dorian has so far resulted in 1,361 flights cancelled.