Hurricanes

The Bahama Islands are frequented by more hurricanes than any country in the Caribbean with Abaco having the most landfalls. This exhibit will explore why The Bahamas is so vulnerable to these powerful storms and how understanding the science behind them is essential for our future. With climate change intensifying storms, hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean are becoming stronger and more frequent.

The devastation caused by Category 5 Hurricane Dorian in 2019 highlighted how critical it is to prepare and adapt. This platform aims to educate Bahamians, starting at a young age, on the science and impact of hurricanes. By making informed decisions about adaptive infrastructure, storm procedures, and how to protect vital ecosystems such as mangroves from commercial development, we can reduce some of the risks when storms strike. Though science can’t stop the storms, it can help us make choices and improve resilience in the face of increasingly powerful hurricanes.
An aerial view of the damage Hurricane Dorian caused on Great Abaco Island. The storm stalled over that island and Grand Bahama, lashing them with powerful wind, heavy rain and dangerous storm surge. Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images