Due to the formation and nearby passage of Tropical Storm Humberto, a tropical storm warning was in effect on September 13 and 14 for northwestern islands of The Bahamas, hindering aircraft and vessel movements supporting Hurricane Dorian relief efforts on the worst-affected islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama. Despite the two-day reduction of air and sea operations, relief and storm-preparedness efforts continued on the ground in Abaco, with the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) collaborating with partners and other organizations to distribute emergency shelter supplies and provide shelter facilities for vulnerable populations. Tropical Storm Humberto moved away from The Bahamas on September 14, causing no further damage to Hurricane Dorian-affected islands.

On the government side, as the world’s single-largest humanitarian donor, the United States Government has responded to the request for assistance from the Bahamian Government and has been providing life-saving assistance to address acute humanitarian needs. On Sunday, I myself visited Abaco and met with the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team – or DART, as we call it – which is leading our government’s humanitarian response in the Bahamas. There are now more than 100 members of that DART on the ground in the Bahamas. This team on the ground is providing urgently needed aid, including basic food, shelter, and health support. USAID is working across the interagency, including with Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Coast Guard for logistical support and to augment search-and-rescue operations.