Helping the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian means donating money, supplies, time, or physical labor through vetted organizations, and following trusted sources for where to send aid as relief efforts get organized. Dorian was a historic storm, the biggest ever to hit the Bahamas, and the islands of Abaco, Marsh Harbour, and Grand Bahama were hit terribly hard. In this How 2 Tuesday I talk through the ways you can help and how I am using my platforms to relay vetted information on where to donate. Press play above and follow along.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
You can help in several ways, by donating money, donating supplies, or giving your time and physical labor. So many people emailed me asking how to help, where to donate, and where to take supplies, and the relief is being organized as the situation unfolds. The most useful thing you can do is follow trusted sources to find vetted organizations and drop-off points, because that information is coming together quickly. If you cannot help physically or financially, keeping these people in your prayers matters too.
Donate through organizations you can vet, and be careful to make sure they are legitimate before you send money or supplies. At the time of this episode, Peter Miller had just posted that he was getting supplies ready to donate to an effort connected to a relief mission, and because I know Peter I assumed it was legit. I am using the Saltwater Experience social media, my own social media, and this podcast to relay vetted information on where to donate as it gets confirmed, so follow those for the latest trusted drop-off points and funds.
Yes, and many are planning to. I have been in touch with friends who go over there every weekend, and a lot of fishermen are planning to load relief supplies on their boats and run them across to help, bringing supplies and medical aid, getting people to safety, and providing physical labor. If you have a capable boat and the ability to make the trip safely, coordinating with organized relief efforts is a powerful way to get aid directly to the islands that need it.
Vet it before you give. With a disaster of this scale, relief efforts spring up fast, and you want to be sure your money and supplies actually reach people. Lean on people and organizations you know and trust, which is why I leaned on the fact that I personally know Peter Miller when he shared a relief effort. I am also relaying only vetted information through my platforms, so following trusted sources rather than acting on the first appeal you see helps make sure your help lands where it should.
All kinds, and the needs evolve over time. In the immediate aftermath there is a need for supplies, medical aid, and getting people to safety, and there will be countless opportunities to help with money, time, and physical labor as recovery continues. Having been through hurricanes myself, I can tell you it will be a while before these places are back to where they were, so the need for help is not just in the first days, it lasts well into the long rebuild.
I am using all of my platforms to relay vetted information as it comes in, the Saltwater Experience Instagram, my own Instagram at Tom_Rowland, and this podcast. If you know of organizations or people organizing relief and drop-off points, I will help spread that information through those channels. Following them is the best way to get the trusted, up-to-date guidance on where to donate supplies and money and how to get involved.
The Bahamas were still under Hurricane Dorian when I recorded this, a historic storm and the biggest ever to hit the islands. Anyone watching social media was seeing the videos coming out of Abaco, Marsh Harbour, and Grand Bahama, and it was a really bad situation. So many people emailed me asking how they could help, where to donate, and where to take supplies, that I wanted to use this episode to point people in the right direction. I talk through it all in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Here are the ways you can help right now. I share what I know and where I am relaying vetted information in the episode.
I get into the details in the episode, so press play in the player above.
With a disaster this big, relief efforts come together fast, and it matters that your help actually reaches people. I leaned on the fact that I personally know Peter Miller when he shared a relief effort he was gathering supplies for, and I am committed to relaying only vetted information through my platforms. I explain how I am thinking about vetting in the episode, so press play in the player above.
One of the most powerful things I saw was the fishing community mobilizing. I had been in touch with friends who run over there every weekend, and a lot of fishermen were planning to load relief supplies onto their boats and go help, bringing supplies, medical aid, and labor, and getting people to safety. I talk about those efforts in the episode, so press play in the player above.
Whether you can give money, supplies, time, or physical labor, there will be countless opportunities to help the Bahamas, and I will relay vetted information on where to do it through my platforms.
Having been through hurricanes myself, I know it will be a while before these places are back to where they were, and they will need a lot of help. If you cannot help physically or financially, keep these people in your prayers. Press play in the player above.
How 2 Tuesday is my weekly series where I break down one fishing skill at a time, from knots and casting to gear, tactics, and the habits that make you a better angler. Watch and listen to every How 2 Tuesday episode from Tom Rowland.
Hurricane Dorian · the Bahamas · Abaco · Marsh Harbour · Grand Bahama · Peter Miller · hurricane relief · disaster donations · Saltwater Experience · How 2 Tuesday
I'm Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and the longtime host of the Saltwater Experience television show. On the podcast's How 2 Tuesday series I break down one practical skill or lesson at a time, from fishing technique and gear to the habits that make you a better angler, in short, focused episodes you can put to use right away.
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