BAHAMAS-Schools closed as Bahamians were told to be prepared for the passage of Hurricane Milton.

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NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC—Prime Minister Phillip Davis has announced the closure of schools on some islands in the Bahamas and urged nationals to be prepared for tropical storm conditions as Hurricane Milton continues to strengthen as it approaches the western coast of Florida in the United States.

In a nationwide broadcast, Prime Minister Davis said that the Met Office has upgraded the status for islands in the Northern Bahamas from a ‘Tropical Storm Watch’ to a ‘Tropical Storm Warning’ as the Category 5 hurricane is expected to hit Florida later on Wednesday.

“This means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours on the islands of Abaco, Bimini, Grand Bahama, and the surrounding cays. While the threat is not as significant as that of the hurricane threat posed to our neighbors in Florida, we still need to take it seriously,” Prime Minister Davis said.

He said that because of the heavy flooding expected to result from this, after consulting with the Minister of Education, he is announcing that all schools on those islands will be closed until Friday for in-person teaching.

“We do not want our young people having to navigate large areas of flooding while getting to and from school,” he added.

Davis said tropical storms are nothing new for the Bahamas given that “year after year we are told how we must prepare, and ready ourselves and our homes to keep us all safe.

“But we know how quickly things can change. This storm, in particular, has intensified extremely rapidly. And so, within the next 24 hours, it is important that you do all you can to stay safe,” he said, adding that the Disaster Risk Management Authority has issued detailed guidance on preparing.

“Please don’t wait. If you haven’t already done so, start preparing immediately,” Prime Minister Davis said, adding that the Met Office advises that tropical storm winds will be experienced on Abaco, Bimini, Grand Bahama, and the surrounding cays as Hurricane Milton passes over Florida.

“These islands have experienced excessive rainfall from another storm system since Sunday. And so the ground is already saturated with water. Heavy rainfall has also recently been experienced on other islands, including Andros, The Berry Islands, New Providence, and Eleuthera. And now the rainfall from Hurricane Milton is expected to intensify, especially on Wednesday.”

Prime Minister Davis said that as a result, there is likely to be extensive flooding. The Met Office is also advising that from noon on Wednesday, heavy rainfall is also expected on the other islands, namely Andros, The Berry Islands, New Providence, and Eleuthera.

He said that the Broadcast Alert System has already been activated on all mobile phones in the country and is urging everyone to “please pay attention to the alerts and follow the advice given.”

Davis said that for the past several months, he has held monthly meetings with the Disaster Risk Management Team, and compared to the past, the team has greatly enhanced the degree of national preparedness.

“They coordinate efforts across all sectors to ensure the agency is ready to respond swiftly and effectively. I expect that those of you, especially in Abaco and Grand Bahama, may well find this time to be the cause of some anxiety.”

Prime Minister Davis said there is no need for panic or alarm given Hurricane Milton’s projected path, and it’s not projected to make landfall in the Bahamas.

“Even so, much has been learned and improved upon from past experiences. One of the lessons is that it is better to take extra precautions rather than be surprised by unforeseen events. In other words, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Prime Minister Davis said the government is coordinating “our efforts with our consular offices and local Bahamian associations in Florida to assist wherever possible.

“As Bahamians, we are no strangers to the challenges of tropical storms and hurricanes. We have faced them before and emerged more robust each time.

Let us remain vigilant, prepared, and ready to act,” he said in the broadcast.

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