A Forsyth County Battalion Chief is already on the ground in the Bahamas, helping with relief efforts.

Paige Colwell, an avid diver, travelled to the Bahamas on her own time to assist in the rescue efforts underway.  Colwell, who has been regularly posting requests for help and updates to her Facebook account, says the damage in some areas is devastating, but the people are working together. “There is no violence here on this particular island. People stand in line and wait for water, wait to be evacuated and exchange stories and smile. This while standing in the heat the entire day .”

 Colwell says that appearances in the area are deceiving because some structures that are still standing were roof deep in salt water for days, likely ruining everything inside, including the plumbing and wiring. 

Colwell is also working with a private pilots organization called AeroBridge that is bringing in supplies to a private airstrip that has opened.  You can find out how to assist them at www.aerobridge.org . She also urges everyone to get involved with the humane society, which is currently working to bring abandoned animals back to the U.S.

Cristina Zenato, a cave diver and shark expert who lives in the Bahamas, is also posting about the situation, saying the damage to the businesses is hitting especially hard, “Most of the industrial area was flooded so key business selling goods to repair and rebuild are closed and damaged making it hard to find anything.”