The official hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin (the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico) is June 1 to Nov. 30, with the peak of the season in late August through late October. Last September, Hurricane Florence hit the Carolina’s coast bringing mass destruction to the beautiful Carolina beaches. The beaches are still not completely put back together.  Already this year, a hurricane has been brewing in the Atlantic. Many people cautiously watched the news and weather updates, and the southeast braced for Hurricane Dorian as the storm’s path predicted landfall on America’s coast after making a catastrophic landfall in the Bahamas.

         Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas Sept. 1, leaving at least 50 dead and dozens are still being rescued from the rising floodwaters. The numbers are expected to rise as the full extent of the damage is completely explored.

 The hurricane intensified to a Category 5 when it hit the Abaco Island. Dorian stalled for a long time over Grand Bahama Island, with record winds reaching 185 mph and a reported storm surge 20 feet on some islands. The storm pounded the small islands for over 24 hours. The estimated damage from the country is $7 billion. As the storm moved out of the islands, the extent of the damage has only begun to be discovered.

         “The damage that the hurricane caused is saddening. The Bahamas is truly a beautiful place, and the people there are amazing.  Seeing the beauty torn away from the natural event is terrible,” said senior Caleb Sizemore.

As Dorian moved towards the Carolinas, Wilmington prepared for the storm and the university cancelled classes Monday, Sept. 2 through the end of the week as an extra precaution.

“My classes were cancelled all week and it was challenging to try and plan out all my homework and everything I needed to get done, but after last year, I think a lot of people were worried that history would repeat itself and we would be out for a long time,” said freshman at UNCW Alicia Townsend.

         Luckily Dorian spared Wilmington, the hurricane weakened to a Category 2 storm and eventually a Category 1 as it moved north.

The majority of the damage was downed trees, power outages and minor flooding.

Ocracoke Island got hit the hardest leaving nearly 800 people stranded due to the powerful storm surge that flooded homes and businesses. 

         Though the Bahamas were not as fortunate to avoid the devastation this catastrophic storm has caused, North Carolina and the southeast were salvaged and the cleanup process is underway.

Food and water are being sent to Dorian victims from the Bahamas to Ocracoke and many volunteers are needed to help with the cleanup process. To get involved go to The Salvation Army website, under disasters.

         “I am thankful all students have returned to school and most everything was not damaged and we can return to normal.” Townsend said.