The Bahamian government reports that in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian approximately 2,500 people are missing, and at least 50 have been confirmed dead. Among them is a stable worker, according to Mark Samuel, co-chair of the Caribbean Equine Relief Fund.
“The devastation to life and property has been massive,” said Samuel. “Unfortunately our equestrian community has also been decimated, with one facility damaged and one facility completely destroyed with all horses dead and a human caregiver killed while trying to save them.”
Samuel has reached out to the Bahamian Equestrian Federation in order to assess their emergency relief needs. Together with his Caribbean Equine Relief Fund co-chair Eve van den Bol of the Cayman Islands Federation, plans are being put in place to ship a 20-foot container of feed, medicine and other supplies to Freeport in the Bahamas this week.
To help support these efforts, people are asked to make donations to the Caribbean Equine Relief Fund, via the United States Equestrian Federation Equine Relief Fund at usef.org/donate or by phone at 859-258-2472. Please note that it is important to state that you wish the funds to earmarked for the Caribbean Equine Relief effort.
“When Hurricanes Maria and Irma went through the Caribbean in 2017, we established the Caribbean Equine Relief Fund and Program,” said Samuel. “Many islands received much needed feed, hay, medicine, buckets, even temporary fencing. We can all be proud of the difference that we made. Now is another such time for us to step up as a community.”
Hurricane Dorian, ranked as a Category 5 storm, made landfall on September 1st, and is the fiercest hurricane to ever hit the Bahamas. As search and rescue efforts continue in the Grand Bahama and Abaco islands, the death toll is expected to rise. In addition, tens of thousands of people are displaced, having lost their homes in the devastation.