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'Don't forget us:' Freeport Bahamas still struggling to clean-up one month after Hurricane Dorian

Posted at 7:58 PM, Oct 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-09 19:58:53-04

FREEPORT, Bahamas — One month after deadly hurricane Dorian destroyed communities in the Bahamas, the people of Freeport are still living in the devastation.

"Their houses filled with water so they climbed up into the attic and waited on the rafters for 24 hours until the water went down," said Ken Lane, pastor of Lucaya Presbyterian Church in Freeport, Bahamas.

When hurricane Dorian stalled over Grand Bahama Island for nearly two days, it slammed Freeport with nearly 20 feet of storm surge and 185 mph winds.

One month later, streets are lined with the damage.

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"All of their worldly goods are out in a pile, out in front of their house," said Lane.

Refrigerators, mattresses, furniture, stoves, and layers of drywall are piled outside of homes.

Freeport still has saltwater coming out of the taps and more than 50% of residents are still without power.

Hundreds of people wait in line outside of a relief distribution sites to get basic needs like canned food and water.

Lane believes it could take years for the island to recover from Dorian.

"Don’t forget us. We’re going to be in this situation for a long time," said Lane.