Hurricane Dorian has been slowly wreaking havoc along its Atlantic path. Its next stop is Canada's Atlantic provinces, where it's expected to arrive as a Category 1 on the evening of September 7.
The storm has been on everyone's mind for two weeks now and its unpredictable nature made it hard to know where and when the worst would hit.
Sadly, it was the Bahamas that bore the brunt of the storm, which hit the islands as a Category 5 hurricane.
Without clean water, electricity, or reliable communication, residents are desperate for aid, but Dorian's destruction has made it difficult to reach the islands most affected. Airports and other landing sites are under water and ports were torn apart.
Cruise ships are particularly equipped to provide aid, which might seem surprising. However, if they are close enough, a ship can quickly change course and is already fully stocked with food and emergency supplies, as well as the manpower to mobilize efficiently.
The Celebrity Equinox was already sailing the Caribbean with a stop in Nassau, but as soon as they knew help was needed, they diverted to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island.
On board, kitchen staff began baking extra bread and made 10,000 sandwiches to hand out to those in need.
“We need to go and help them. So, you know, the trip, it’s not a big deal,” Anna Kitchen told NBC News.
Walt Disney Co. and Carnival Corp. have both stated plans to help out with supplies or financial aid, and two Royal Caribbean ships are helping too.
The Symphony of the Seas has already arrived with tens of thousands of hot meals ready to hand out.
Supplies are being transported between ship and shore via a mix of tugboats and lifeboats. They hope to build a field kitchen on land soon to make the process faster.
They are also working with the government to set up a system for evacuees to be transported safely from Freeport to Nassau.
Aside from food, water, and medical supplies, they're also bringing lounge chairs so people can sleep up out of the mud, along with bedding, towels, and donated clothing.
h/t: NBC News
