Emergency Medical Teams’ response to Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas (2019)

In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama. It destroyed homes, clinics, and hospitals through winds, rain, and storm surge. Flooding left debris, loss of life, and disrupted power, water, and communications.

Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) played a key role in supporting health services. The Ministry of Health, the Public Hospitals Authority, and the National Emergency Management Agency led the response with technical support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). For the first time in the Caribbean, a Medical Information and Coordination Cell (CICOM) was activated within the Health Emergency Operations Center in Nassau. The CICOM managed requests for EMTs, validated incoming teams, and ensured that clinical data from the field were shared daily with national authorities. Seven EMTs deployed to The Bahamas. They delivered more than 9000 outpatient consultations, admitted 178 patients, and performed 134 surgeries. Type 1 teams offered essential outpatient care in shelters and damaged communities. A Type 2 team provided surgical and inpatient capacity, bridging gaps left by hospitals that had been damaged or closed. Their work was coordinated with Bahamian health services, ensuring referrals and continuity of care under austere conditions. The AAR gathered national counterparts, EMTs, and regional experts to examine the experience. The review identified best practices and challenges: customs clearance, inter-island transport, communication outages, and the need for clear transition once the acute phase ends. 

This report provides a legacy reference for strengthening preparedness and ensuring that EMT deployments in future emergencies are effective, efficient, and aligned with national coordination structures. It reinforces the importance of classified and self-sufficient EMTs, strong coordination through CICOM, and early planning for recovery.