害羞草研究所淥惫别谤飞丑别濒尘颈苍驳.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 the single word that is on Dexter Ferguson害羞草研究所檚 mind as he sits in a Kelowna hotel room with his son Dexter Jr. and his wife, Bridgenna. He uses it to describe the immense amount of support he and his family have felt since arriving in Kelowna on Monday night.

To get here, they travelled more than 4,500 km from the Bahamas 害羞草研究所� which was devastatingly struck by Hurricane Dorian just over one week ago.

As of Sept. 11, the Bahamas害羞草研究所� National Emergency Management Agency has listed over 2,500 people as missing and the official death toll is currently 50. Tens of thousands of people on both the Abacos and Grand Bahama islands remain in need of aid.

Soon after the disaster, Mike Carter, a Kelowna chef who once worked with Ferguson in the Bahamas, began trying to contact anybody he could on the island.

害羞草研究所淒exter reached out and said he害羞草研究所檇 lost his house,害羞草研究所� said Carter. 害羞草研究所淗e asked if there was any way that I could try and get him to Canada and I said 害羞草研究所榮ure.害羞草研究所� I dropped everything that I was doing and spent the next five straight days working every hour trying to get him here.害羞草研究所�

Carter succeeded, thanks in part to a still-active .

But his work isn害羞草研究所檛 done yet.

害羞草研究所淒exter has a sister on the island with a two-month-old baby,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淗er house has been destroyed; she害羞草研究所檚 standing in water lines four-hours-long, in the heat.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he situation is very bad,害羞草研究所� added Ferguson.

害羞草研究所淩ight now, the water table is poisoned. People can害羞草研究所檛 get clean water to take a shower or drink. Certain entities donated water but it害羞草研究所檚 still hard for everybody to get some.害羞草研究所�

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Carter said they害羞草研究所檙e trying to find a boat to get the two to Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas. Carter said that from there, it will be easier to get Ferguson害羞草研究所檚 family to Canada.

But prices for the trip have inflated as more and more people try to leave the islands.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 the hardest thing right now,害羞草研究所� said Carter. 害羞草研究所淭he last quote that we just got for somebody for a boat to get them off was $11,000.害羞草研究所�

Carter estimates they will need another $25,000 for a boat, a flight and other transportation, to get the two out of the Bahamas, so they are again turning to the community for support.

害羞草研究所淭his process is very strenuous,害羞草研究所� said Ferguson. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to take a lot of money and support just to get it off the ground.害羞草研究所�

Carter said while cash donations are what is most needed right now, they are also accepting grocery store gift cards and are still seeking out shelter for Ferguson and his family.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e still looking for accommodation that害羞草研究所檚 very reasonably priced or possibly could be donated,害羞草研究所� he said.

The Canadian Red Cross has offered $750 towards the Ferguson family害羞草研究所檚 first month of rent when they can find a more permanent place to stay.

Kelowna Transit also donated free bus passes and H2O Fitness and Adventure Centre for donated a family pass for the Fergusons to use.

Currently, the family is being put up at the Manteo Resort free of charge and clothing donations were being accepted at the Hotel Eldorado today.

Donations are coming in but the family is still in need of warm winter clothing. Sizes needed are men害羞草研究所檚 XL with 46-48 pants for Dexter, XL young boys 16-18 pants for Dexter Jr. and women害羞草研究所檚 small/medium with pants size 14-15 for Bridegenna.

害羞草研究所淢ike did a very good job getting us off the island. He really took care of everything,害羞草研究所� said Ferguson. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just really appreciative of everything he害羞草研究所檚 doing.害羞草研究所�

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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