Culture & Politics Series — The Way | Bahamas
The supermarket aisles in Kingston are crowded—flashlights, water, canned goods, and batteries flying off shelves. Outside, the first winds of a tropical storm ripple through the palms. Across the Caribbean, the same ritual unfolds: anxious eyes fixed on weather maps, radios humming with updates, neighbors helping neighbors batten down.
A storm is brewing again, this time edging toward Jamaica, with projections showing possible impacts on The Bahamas within days. It’s the rhythm of life in the tropics—equal parts fear and faith.
Preparing for the Inevitable
For those who live in hurricane zones, preparation is both science and culture.
Government emergency offices in Kingston and Nassau have already activated national response systems—issuing evacuation orders for flood-prone areas, pre-positioning relief supplies, and coordinating with regional partners such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
In Jamaica, Minister Matthew Samuda reported that shelters are being stocked with food and cots, while the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) runs 24-hour radio updates.
In The Bahamas, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun public advisories, reminding citizens: “Storms can rebuild houses, not lives—prepare now.”
