Page 50 - Patrick Oppmann News Today

Buildings have been completely or partially destroyed. >> and theyre all in the dark. the power cut throughout the island, residents of grand bahama are left to huddle in darkness with water levels rising. cnn spoke to one woman who rode out the storm. >> i think everyone here is pretty much in shock. its utter destruction everywhere we look so everyone kind of happy that were alive but its just realizing, you know the options. >> four helicopters are conducting rescue operations in the bahamas....

♪ >> reporter: as hurricane dorian slowly starts to move away from the islands of the bahamas, were getting our first reports of the damage. the salvation army estimates that 13,000 home there have been destroyed. the prime minister says that the damage is unprecedented. and our patrick oppmann who has been on the island of grand bahama and freeport for the duration of the storm says that neighbors are now out, searching, trying to rescue one another. he sees no evidence of an organized govern...

From palm beach county all the way up to nassau, the florida/georgia border, all those coastal counties have issued evacuation orders and its important that residents heed those calls. you know, get out now while you have time, while theres fuel available and youll be safe on the roads. >> well, cnn is covering this hurricane from all the angles. patrick oppmann is in freeport. derek van dam is along the east coast and nick valencia is further north in melbourne, florida. first ivan cabrera. it ...

All up and down the east coast as the storm moves farther to the north. the storm surge could go up another 2 feet, and in some spots, 5 feet. back to you. >> and thats what theyre watching, i think, most closely along the close. the storm surge could be at dangerous levels. now our patrick oppmann and his team have been in freeman, experiencing something that i dont think anyone living has ever been through before. i want to go to patrick in freeport right now, get a sense of how things are the...

Days, sam, joe, were having a little bit of difficulty hearing and understanding everything. i think people at home understand that happens sometimes. thank you for spending a couple of minutes with us. again, we are happy that you are okay and our patrick oppmann said from his perspective this will be the bahamas katrina. as we see more pictures of the devastation and the damage, well know exactly how much work there is ahead. well take a quick break here, but we will continue cnns special live...

Bahamas. patrick oppmann has been riding out the storm. was there even before dorian approached. hes joining us by phone. patrick, jennifer jay sagray sat the storm is starting to move 5 miles per hour. are conditions improving? are you able to get out now? >> reporter: we have for the first time since the storm. and conditions are much more than i expected to the center point of the street where people, private citizens are bringing their boats and jet skis. you there see houses, thousands of h...

Nobody is out there to rescue right now. so its so absolutely necessary, its not good to be on a boat. its not good to be in a jet ski, theyre going down rivers that used to be streets. and when we were there, we got pelted and knocked down by the wind. the last thing anybody should be doing is going in a boat. but these people realize that time is running out. >> reporter: patrick oppmann, now able to venture out there in freeport for the first time in days, to get a better idea of the aftermat...

Under way in coastal communities from florida all the way to north carolina. floridas governor urged everyone to get out while they can. >> people need to remain vigilant. if youre ordered to evacuate, you need to do that from palm beach county all the way up to nassau, the florida-georgia border, all those coastal counties have issued evacuation orders. and its important that residents heed those calls. you know, get out now while you have time, while theres fuel available, and youll be safe on...

Any deviation could make the winds stronger. watching the storm very closely. chad myers, thank you very much for keeping us posted. i want to go straight to freeport on grand bahama island. patrick oppmann and his team have been there for days now. the communications difficult, the conditions even worse. patrick, please tell us what you are seeing this morning as the sun comes up. >> reporter: good morning, well, you know, the winds have dropped somewhat. yesterday it was just incredible how lo...

Government here, any sense of people in charge or helping and that is what the bahamian government said before the storm, not until the airport opens, not until you bring in boats will you get resources in here, so we are waiting for that to happen. for the moment, a very dire situation here. >> reporter: hopefully, patrick, the winds die down, and people can get a sense of just how much damage there is, and what the need is. patrick oppmann to you and your team, please stay safe. i want to go t...