After Hurricane Dorian made impact with The Bahamas last Sunday, September 1, the Category 5 storm has officially taken 30 lives and the death toll is expected to be significantly higher. The United States National Hurricane Center defines a Category 5 storm as causing catastrophic damage with a high percentage of framed homes being destroyed as well as total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas and power outages are expected to last for weeks to months. A storm of this caliber would leave the area uninhabitable for months. Dorian had winds whipping 185mph (298km/h) and is the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic basin since 1935.
Aside from the flipped cars, torn away roofs, other countless amounts of property damage, the Bahamian government has sent hundreds of first responders to scour the small group of islands for trapped survivors. Hundreds of residents are missing and officials in the Bahamas have shipped in more body bags in preparation for the worst.
Because of the isolation of the country, resources take more time and are costly to be brought in. The only airport that is large enough for international travel has been completely wrecked by the winds and rain, making it un-serviceable for medical evacuations or aid deliveries.
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis stated "we are seeing bravery and fortitude of Bahamians who endured hours and days of horror. Our urgent task will be to provide food, water, shelter, and safety and security." Without proper aid, many residents that have survived the storm many now be affected by dehydration and starvation.
Early reports stated that an estimated 13,000 buildings were completely destroyed, but the initial tally is expected to be nowhere close to the actual scale of the devastation. Over 80% of the population live in urban settings, which are areas that have been devastated by the storm.
The Bahamas has an economy that is heavily dependent on tourism. Tourism accounts for approximately 50% of the country's GDP and employs half of the labor force, whether directly or indirectly. A storm of this caliber is completely devastating economically, for its damage has the potential of erasing most of the country's tourism revenue. The aftermath of this storm has the potential to have an economic ripple effect not only in The Bahamas, but all other international tourism industries like cruise lines, hotels, and flights.