Organizations' Pilots 'Delivering Aid and Assessing Damage' 

The folks of Bahamas Habitat tell ANN that its first response pilots are now delivering aid to numerous points in the Bahamas affected by Hurricane Irene. The organization moved quickly and had its first planes arriving on Friday August 26th shortly after the storm passed to the north.

The group has set up a main depot and coordination post at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). Volunteers and pilots have come in from numerous points in the US and Bahamas. Planes were dispatched to deliver supplies and assess the damage and needs so the organization can direct the next wave of volunteer pilots according to the conditions they find on the ground in the various "Out Islands".

"We made our first flights on Friday as soon as it was safe to fly", said Cameron King, the organization's Aviation and Disaster Relief Coordinator. "One of our first stops was to Governor's Harbour on Eleuthera Island to deliver supplies and check on our staff and our base camp there. Though there was damage, we are just all so thankful no one has been injured."

The organization is reaching out for donations of supplies, additional pilots with aircraft to join in the relief airlift, and online donations to allow the group to buy supplies to fill their volunteer aircraft. They are publishing lists of supplies needed on their website along with their flight missions. They have requested everything from generators to roofing materials to food that does not require much preparation such as pop-top cans and ready to eat items.

Abraham McIntyre, the Executive Director of Bahamas Methodist Habitat and the organization's Camp Symonette on Eleuthera said, "We are blessed the damage was not worse that it is. We are grateful to have the generous support of all of our volunteers, pilots and donors. It is their generous contributions that make it possible for us to serve the needs of those affected by this storm."

The organization maintains an active Hurricane Irene News Feed with photos from their missions. All parties interested in mission updates and volunteering opportunities should sign up on the website (bahamashabitat.org) for their mission update emails. Online donations are requested and can be made by credit card on the website. All donations are Tax Deductible.

Throughout the year Bahamas Habitat helps introduce pilots to mission flying opportunities and offer training opportunities so they can respond in times like these. This approach was tremendously successful in providing the organization the ability to respond quickly to the Haiti earthquake.

Bahamas Habitat is a US-based Christian nonprofit organization supporting housing & disaster relief work in the Bahamas and Caribbean that also introduces pilots to mission flying opportunities. The organizations' volunteers flew over 400 missions to Haiti following the devastating earthquake there. Bahamas Habitat was recognized in 2010 by the National Aeronautic Association with the Public Benefit Flying Outstanding Achievement Award, Teamwork Award and Distinguished Volunteer Pilot Award. Through our partner Bahamas Methodist Habitat (BMH), operating out of James Cistern Eleuthera, we are involved in hosting over 700 adults and youths each season for impactful week long and weekend Christian missions. The organization hosts the Fly-In & Help Out Event and promotes mission opportunities to pilots, aircraft owners, volunteers and aviation organizations in the US and Canada.

FMI: www.bahamashabitat.org