Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. Chester Cooper addressed the nation on Monday evening from the National Emergency Management Agency.
Cooper said, “Abaco and Grand Bahama are projected to take a direct hit from Hurricane Nicole. Bimini and Berry Islands are also in the path of the storm. Residents of those islands should take every precaution to secure themselves and their property.”
He went further, “Nicole is expected to come when seas are already at a high tide increasing the chance of flooding. We are urging, strongly urging, everyone in low lying areas particularly in east and west Grand Bahama and Abaco to move further inland. We’re asking everyone living in domes, trailers and structures on Abaco and Grand Bahama in particular that are not up to code to make immediate plans to evacuate, to move to a hurricane shelter or another safe place.”
The Acting Prime Minister also announced, “schools and government offices in Nassau, Eleuthera and Andros will close effective 12 noon tomorrow until the all clear is given. Airports and seaports on all affected islands are expected to close when the wind reaches forty [40] knots or higher. We anticipate that this will be tomorrow evening. Andros, Eleuthera and New Providence are expected to feel impacts of the storm. All residents on these islands are expected to prepare as well.”
Cooper admonished residents in the northern and central Bahamas to take the threat of Hurricane Nicole seriously.
