Florida Museum Statement of Support for Abaco and Grand Bahama

September 6, 2019

Hurricane Dorian’s recent path over the islands and cays of Abaco and Grand Bahama in the northern Bahamas was nothing short of catastrophic to the islands and their people. Over the course of three days, lives and livelihoods were lost and entire communities were displaced by record-setting winds, rainfall and storm surges. Moving forward, it will take years to recover from Dorian’s destruction. We at the Florida Museum extend our deepest condolences to the people of Abaco and Grand Bahama, including our many colleagues, friends and students within the natural history museum community.

The Florida Museum has a long and storied tradition of collaborative natural history and cultural heritage research, outreach and education with the Bahamas National Museum/Antiquities, Monuments, and Museum Corporation (AAMC), the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), and Abaco-based Friends of the Environment (FOE). On Abaco and Grand Bahama, the decades-long relationships between the Florida Museum and Bahamian colleagues, students, teachers, volunteers and communities have been and continue to be the foundation of an ongoing, shared commitment to the exploration, documentation and conservation of the rich natural history, cultural heritage and biodiversity of the islands. Underlying many of these professional partnerships are friendships and communities of comradery that transcend scientific interests and endeavors.

It is within this spirit of friendship, collegial support and human resiliency that the Florida Museum stands in solidarity with the people of Abaco and Grand Bahama during their time of recovery, healing and rebuilding. We are committed to contributing to humanitarian, research-based and scholastic aid. With our doors open to colleagues and students in need of scholarly support and shelter, the Florida Museum reaffirms our close partnerships with the AAMC, BNT and FOE now and in the months and years to come.