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Gainesville Fire Rescue Assists In Dorian Relief Efforts In Bahamas

Gainesville Fire Rescue aids the Marsh Harbour area on Abaco Island.
Gainesville Fire Rescue aids the Marsh Harbour area on Abaco Island.

A City of Gainesville Fire Rescue team departed early Saturday morning to provide additional aid for the Bahamas.

The Gainesville Fire Rescue search and rescue team is working closely with local police and emergency management authorities on Abaco Island in the Bahamas.

The North Florida American Red Cross is contributing to the American Red Cross' efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. The Red Cross is sending aid to the Bahamas and assisting evacuees as they arrive to the United States.

The Red Cross is partnering with Palm Beach County Emergency Management to provide shelter in West Palm Beach, Florida for Bahamian evacuees. Chief Development Officer Christian Smith says the Red Cross will offer food, water, hygiene and health services, and other necessities as needed.

"A lot of those individuals that came in are staying with friends and family, but the ones that didn't have friends or family to stay with were taken care of," Smith said.

Smith says North Central Florida American Red Cross is a part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and it is providing shelter in multiple states to make sure evacuees are receiving the help they need.

"The Bahamas are part of our entire Hurricane Dorian relief effort," said Smith. "We had shelters open all the way from Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and up into Virginia."

The American Red Cross is donating $2 million to help individuals impacted by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

Abaco and Grand Bahama were severely destructed by Hurricane Dorian, and people from these islands are still quickly evacuating. Despite challenges, the International Federation of Red Cross have started sending out relief supplies to the Bahamas.

Blake is a student reporter for WUFT and can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.
Jolena is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.