ACCOMMODATIONS and BUSINESS UPDATES (ALL reliable information will be posted here, without regard to whether or not a business or accommodation is a go-abacos sponsor. News pertaining to Go-abacos sponsors will be hot-linked to our sponsors' respective Go-abacos pages):

October 16 - 9:45PM - SETTLEMENT UPDATE:

The Bahamian Gov't removed the tropical storm warning from Abaco in the evening hours yesterday. Wrong, very wrong. Our wind/weather station was a victim of Floyd (or Dennis), but we've sailed for enough years to know the difference between 28 and greater than 28. This was more like a steady 35 - 45, gusts to perhaps 60.

Massive thunder and lightning storms. We know something near us was hit, but don't know what. (Last time we said that, we heard the hit and it was US!) Apparently, some tornadoes were spawned in MH, in the area known as Little Orchard and in Pelican Shores. Knocked part of the roof off Faron Sawyer's house, and a few others. Also blew up the transformer which brings power to the Cays. No power. From about 0100 to sometime about 1100 this morning.

Saddest tale: apparently a couple who live in Bahama Palm Shores, the Gayes, were quietly sleeping in the second story of their home. Tornado blew the second story off. Mrs. Gaye (Agnes) was killed. Mr. Gaye is being treated for some broken bones. Might also be a broken heart. I am told that these good people were very active in working with Pastor Robin Weatherford in the church he runs for the Haitian community. It is amazing, however, that this is the first death with three hurricanes in the Abacos in forty or so days.

October 12 - SETTLEMENT UPDATE:
Things seem to be almost normal by now on MOW.  Boats which were aground have been moved, and Edwin's 1 & 2 are working constantly to get repairs done, along with the work which was scheduled before Floyd.  Many foreign home owners have been down to check on or work at getting their properties back in shape.  There is still more work to be done than workers to do it, so many things will take time, but the progress is amazing.  The Eastern Harbour looks as it always has, but just with a "haircut" to the shrubbery.  Even the trees, shrubs and mangroves are coming back.  There are patches of green everywhere, and the sturdy native plants are leafing out with vigor.

In terms of the MOW community, the greatest concern I've heard expressed is that the roof blew off the Library building.  This roof needs to be repaired.  And when the new roof is in place, there will be a need for new books, since many of the ones they had are irretrievably water-damaged.  If any of the folks coming down here have space for a carton of books they could contribute, the donation would be welcomed.

Businesses are back up and running, and for the most part things are back to something resembling "normal."  House rentals are going forward, Hibiscus Cafe is serving both lunch and dinner, and the breezes off the ocean are cooling things a bit while we wait for the shade to return fully.  

Margot Lee - MOW

Posted 5 October 1999: FOLLOWING IS A COMPREHENSIVE MOW REPORT, COURTESY OF Margot Lee/MAN-'O--WAR CAY. Please Click HERE for Margot's October 7th update.

1. No injuries, no loss of life.

2. Minor damage to many houses--roof shingles gone, crow's nests gone, docks gone, fences, railings etc. gone. Only a few with significant damage: two houses north of the ballfield on the beach were undercut by beach erosion. One lost a brand new deck, one may have some foundation troubles. Many Oceanside houses had water problems. Caretakers have been struggling to open up and air out these houses, while still trying to clean up their own homes.

3. Many trees down, originally the Queen's Highway was blocked by fallen trees in a number of places, but due to the diligence of Tony Albury and his crew, the Queen's Highway is once again navigable by golf cart--at least between Cay Haven and the normal end of vehicular traffic at the Eastern Harbour end. Virtually every tree was totally denuded of leaves. This morning we can see some green buds. These are tough trees! Many palm trees and casuarinas downed due to their shallow roots. There are also many trees which were blown down by the strong winds which came in with the back of the eye wall--roots had been loosened by the rain and winds from the other direction which preceded this blast.

4. Significant Ocean beach erosion. The coconut grove at the Eastern Harbour end of the island starts about twenty feet further inland than it used to. Part of the old graveyard appears to be washed away. A circumnavigation of the island by Whaler last weekend revealed an unusual new marker off the graveyard beach. I have a suspicion that it may be an Abaco dinghy which was blown out and then sunk. We made no effort to investigate more closely since the seas were building to the blow which came off the Ocean this weekend.

5. Power has been on since last Monday or Tuesday, with a fairly consistent delivery. There were a few hiccups to start, but things seem pretty smooth now.

6. Phone service is extremely limited. We have one line up, and when I called to get put on the list for repair of our second line, I was politely told that only about a dozen lines are working on the island--over 150 people have no phone service at all. I was also told it would be "months" before repairs could be expected. This may be why so many folks have heard so little. Originally there was pretty good local service, but something must have come unglued.

7. Boats: Most boats did quite well. A few were blown into the mangroves. One was known to have been holed and sank on the attempt to refloat her. There is a Uniflite on the rocks at the entrance to the harbour, her flag still gaily flying in thebreeze--but that looks like about all that's still working. Owner is local and has been notified. During the weekend following the storm, I communicated with many boat owners and was able to give good news to most. One boat, "Our Destiny" remains aground in the mangroves on the Eastern Harbour end. (Warning to navigators in Eastern Harbour: she had a storm anchor with full chain out, and that anchor is draped over the dock near where she is aground. If you pass too close to the dock, you'll have a prop full of chain, or worse.) A few boats are still in the mangroves on Dickie's Cay. One boat is known to have sunk, and her owner has been notified. If there are still inquiries about boats, you can e-mail me and I will compile a list. Since I can't call Keith or Darwin, I'll make every effort to get answers by "wandering around" to see what people know.

General condition: After having been to church in Hopetown on Sunday and down to White Sound, I can say with conviction that MOW did MUCH, MUCH better than the surrounding areas. The people have been working hard to clean things up, get businesses going, take care of the houses belonging to foreign owners, and generally get back on their feet. They were without power, phones, water, etc., etc., for two weeks. The streets in the Settlement are cleaned up, the Sail Shop reopened yesterday, I am told, despite their dock's having been broken up. There is food in the grocery stores, gas at the Marina Dock, and the dump is going about 24/7. As you may imagine, there is a high level of stress among those who have survived the storm and now have to wake up every morning to see how much still remains to be done. The configuration of the beach will likely not be as it was for generations to come, but all in all, MOW and her people came through very well.
If you have any other question, please feel free to e-mail me at the address above, or at <margotlee@oii.net> I will be glad to try to answer particular questions about boats, houses, etc. All I ask is that you be a bit patient with us, since we, too, have an enormous amount of work to do in addition to trying to help communicate with the outside world.

Update info SUPPLIED BY MARGOT LEE - Posted 10-7-99: Yesterday the sailing vessel "Our Destiny" was lovingly removed from the mangroves by Abaco Tug and Transport. Hilland Albury did a masterful job of getting her back afloat. I recorded it all on film. I'm sure the owners will be happy to learn that she not only floated, but her engine started right up and she's back on a mooring as though nothing had ever happened. I believe that today Hilland went after the Uniflite which had been decorating the entrance to MOW harbour, but I don't know how she fared. She's locally owned and I think the owner knows what's up with her. Also, regarding the Schooner Bay units here, from what I've been told, there was a fair amount of damage, although the photos show that the buildings are still standing. I've heard they're closed until further notice, but don't want to alarm anyone with reservations. I think Brenda has probably been in touch with people who might have been expecting to stay there. As I'm sure you know, the bulk of the rental properties on MOW are cottages and houses, not apartments, and I'm sure that there are some arrangements which may be made about switching over. We rent our "Dock House" and have a few weeks open from the middle of November through Christmas, then again after the New Year until early February, if this helps anyone. Probably the best route for this kind of thing for obtaining alternate rental accommodations is to get in touch with Brenda, and then let the "jungle drums" work for switching locations.

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT REPORTS - 1 October 1999: Please note that the FOLLOWING REPORT(S) have been provided to The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism directly by the manager and/or owner of each hotel or resort. In every instance the information has been provided in writing by the manager attesting to the status of his/her property. Where no such written documentation has been provided the status is recorded as "information pending". Updates are made on the basis of further written documentation combined with personal visit to the property to verify this information. Parts of northern and southern Abaco sustained extreme damage. The airports at Treasure Cay and Marsh harbour are open. Power is available in some locations and telephone service has been restored in a limited number of locations.

Schooner's Landing, Man-O-War Cay
Information pending.

STORM DAMAGE, RELIEF AND REBUILDING REPORTS:

Second hand information indicates that, other than loss of boats, dock damage and other "challenges" described above, in the Cay's main harbour area, Man-O-War road out the storm rather well.