Hurricane Isaias Damages Roofs, Knocks Down Trees in Bahamas

Hurricane Isaias damaged roofs and toppled trees as it battered the Bahamas overnight and Saturday morning, hitting some areas still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Dorian last year.

Paula Miller, director of Mercy Corps in the Bahamas, told the Associated Press homes that were damaged by Dorian may not withstand another storm. That could slow progress to recover from both hurricanes and the coronavirus pandemic.

"With everything not quite shored up, property not secured, homes not prepared, even a Category 1 will be enough to set them back," she said.

The storm made landfall on Andros Island at about 11 a.m. Saturday morning. It's forecast to continue on a track toward Florida.

(MORE: The Latest Forecast for Hurricane Isaias)

Video posted to social media showed heavy winds and rain.

"Preparation should have been in place now, and continue to hunker down," Trevor Basden, director of the Bahamas meteorology department, said in a Friday evening press conference.

Social Services Director Lillian Quant-Forbes said people in low-lying areas should find friends or family to stay with or, if that's not possible, go to a shelter.

"The greatest thing that we need at this point in time is for everybody to be safe," Quant-Forbes said.

Earlier, the storm killed two people in the Dominican Republic and prompted dozens of water rescues in Puerto Rico.

(MORE: Florida Prepares for Hurricane Isaias: Shelters Open in Palm Beach County)

For many Bahamians, Isaias adds to the misery that has lingered since Hurricane Dorian ravaged the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama in September, killing at least 74 people and leaving thousands homeless.

Beckylee Albury's family lives in a tent on Great Guana Cay in the Abaco Islands.

"Emotionally, I’ve been drained since Dorian," Albury told the Nassau Guardian. "So this is just making it even worse. After Dorian, I couldn’t sleep for weeks. And now with this storm, I’m just numb basically.

"There’s nothing I could do. There’s nothing. I have no plan because there’s nothing I can see to do. We’re going to probably be in the tent for the storm."

The Bahamian National Emergency Management Agency opened all shelters at 10 a.m. Friday.

Bahamas Power and Light shut off electricity to areas at high risk of flooding on New Providence, the most populous island in the Bahamas, the Nassau Guardian reported.

"Once power is cut, it will remain off until it is safe to re-energize," BPL said.

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