Assessment of the effects and impacts of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas

In September 2019 , the world watched as the category 5 Hurricane Dorian rained havoc down on The Bahamas islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco and their communities, erasing any evidence of life in some neighborhoods and leaving behind a trail of heartbreak, sorrow and death. The catastrophic damage to livelihoods and billions of dollars of infrastructure on this archipelago present significant challenges to the preparedness of its tourism -dependent economy and its rescue and recovery capacity. The Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) committed itself to a restoration effort that would be far -reaching and strengthen the island chain against future natural disasters. Through a partnership with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ECLAC), the Bank deployed a research team of experts – both local and international – to the affected sites to collect pertinent data that could be integrated in a more sustainable framework for disaster risk management, policy preparedness and reconstruction methods after a natural disaster. Within this report is a comprehensive overview of the toll Hurricane Dorian had on the islands’ economies and an accounting of the losses, broken down throughout the sectors. It analyzes key vulnerabilities and threats and compiles findings from assessments with recommendations to build resilience in a way that honors the nation’s past while advancing the present and preserving its future. This report provides The Bahamas with data that supports meaningful policy reforms to promote strategic decision making regarding natural disasters.