TORONTO — In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian’s passing to the north, the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board reports that the destination received minimal impact from the storm, and that member hotels and resorts were well-prepared for the storm and remained open throughout.

Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) also remained open.

“We are grateful that Nassau Paradise Island and our resort partners were not impacted by the storm,” said Fred Lounsberry, CEO of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbours in the Abacos and Grand Bahama as well as all those affected on the East Coast of the United States.”

The Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board is working with the Bahamian government to encourage support of relief efforts for those impacted in the northwestern Bahamas. Those wishing to donate to Hurricane Dorian relief for The Bahamas can visit bahamas.com/relief.

Lounsberry said travellers are encouraged to contact their respective airlines and accommodations providers for the most up-to-date information.
A listing of all airlines and their contacts can be found on LPIA’s website at nassaulpia.com.

A listing of all member hotels for the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board and Paradise Island Tourism Development Association can be found at NassauParadiseIsland.com.

More relief is coming from the cruise lines. Yesterday both Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line announced US$1 million in donations each. Now Carnival Corp. and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation have pledged $2 million, plus Carnival Corp. is working with Tropical Shipping and The Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to collect and deliver NEMA-approved food and supplies donated in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties for the people of The Bahamas. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is pledging $1 million. MSC Group has also pledged its support.

Now back up to 115 mph, Hurricane Dorian is currently on the doorstep of the Carolinas, knocking out power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses as it pushed northward toward the Outer Banks.

The National Hurricane Center’s projected track shows Dorian passing near or over North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Friday. The National Hurricane Center forecast as much as 15 inches of rain for the coastal Carolinas, with flash-flooding likely.

Meanwhile Canadian forecasters say the storm system is expected to severely impact parts of the Atlantic provinces this weekend.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre says the most likely track projection brings Dorian south of the Maritimes on Saturday, pushing through eastern Nova Scotia late in the day.

The forecast calls for severe winds and rainfall to have major impacts for southeastern New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia, western Newfoundland and Quebec’s Lower North Shore, with a chance of a storm surge that may affect parts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Rainfall is expected to be significant, with the highest amounts likely for Nova Scotia and the Gulf of St. Lawrence region, with the possibility of as much as 100 millimetres to the north and west of Dorian.

With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press