Key West jumps into hurricane relief action

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

When the going gets tough, Key West gets going.

Hurricane Dorian was still savaging Great Abaco in The Bahamas when a core group from the Conch Republic Navy sprang into action. After meetings on Saturday and Sunday over the Labor Day weekend, members of the normally light-hearted social group had formed a non-profit organization, Key West Cares, to begin soliciting donations to help the residents of Green Turtle Cay, one of the barrier islands off mainland Great Abaco in The Bahamas and Key West’s official sister city. Damage reports were only just starting to trickle in on Tuesday but Paul Menta, who is spearheading the Facebook page for Key West Cares, said the news is devastating.

“That thing [Hurricane Dorian] just sat there and spun on them,” he said about the approximately 450 residents of Green Turtle Cay. “They’re going to need a lot of different things.”

Key West and New Plymouth, the main village on Green Turtle, which is only about three miles long and a half-mile wide, became sister cities in 1977, honoring the influx of residents who left the Bahamian Cay to settle in Key West over the years, bringing their ship building, sponging and fishing skills to the U.S. Bahamian painter Alton Lowe has a museum of his work on the Cay, which also houses several items from Key West. In addition, there is a “Loyalist Memorial Sculpture Garden,” a Bahamian national monument, with busts of prominent Bahamian residents, similar to the sculpture garden in Key West next to Mallory Square. Some people have busts in both gardens to honor their joint heritage.

With Dorian still heading towards the U.S. mainland, the adrenaline level of Key West Cares members – about 1,500 had joined the Facebook page by Tuesday – is high, with several boat owners ready to set sail for Green Turtle, about 300 miles away. But that would be the worst thing to do right now, Menta said. He has been in touch with Ministry of The Bahamas officials, who said it is too dangerous for boats because of all the debris in the water. In addition, roads are impassable so any supplies cannot reach the people who need them right now.

“They don’t want any boats coming in. Zero. They’re more worried about getting people out. I just put that message out [on the Facebook page.] A lot of local boaters were ready to go over,” Menta said.

The best way to help is to gather monetary donations, which are being collected by the Glad Tidings Tabernacle, 1209 United St. The Tabernacle’s lead pastor, Bishop Jonathan Carey, is from The Bahamas himself.

Another way to help is to donate supplies and the Key West Cares Facebook page will have information about what will be needed. There is a public meeting at 1:30 Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Key West City Hall to continue the organization process. Anyone who wants to help is welcome to attend.

“This recovery is going to go on for a long time,” said former Key West Mayor Craig Cates, who is helping the relief effort. “We want to collect as much stuff as we can to get it over there as quickly as we can.”

“The biggest impact that Key West Cares is going to have, I think, is you’ll see flotillas going over in November when we know what they need. It’s going to be a long haul,” Menta said. “We can send over 100 generators but if they don’t have any gas, they’re useless. I know from experience you need mosquito repellent, tarps. Tarps are gold.”

Assistant Key West City Manager Greg Veliz was at the initial meeting, along with Mayor Teri Johnston and Commissioner Clayton Lopez, when Key West Cares was formed. He said the city is offering meeting space at City Hall but is waiting to see what else is needed going forward.

“It’s so early on. We don’t know what they need yet. But we’re going to support any effort we can; collection points, sponsorship, whatever we can do,” Veliz said.

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