Skip to content

The Bahamas hurricane guide

The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Authority runs disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for all of The Bahamas from its Operations Centre on Gladstone Road in Nassau. It began work on July 1, 2024, replacing the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Disaster Reconstruction Authority. The Bahamas Department of Meteorology issues the official weather alerts. On the Family Islands, Family Island Administrators and local Disaster Committees work with the DRM Authority. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Checked on October 3, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Authority. In a life threatening emergency, call 919 or 911.

What to know in The Bahamas

  • The DRM Authority says Hurricane Dorian in 2019 brought unprecedented devastation to Abaco and Grand Bahama, and led to the law that created the Authority.
  • When a mandatory evacuation order is issued for East Grand Bahama during a threatening storm, residents must leave. The designated shelter for East Grand Bahama residents is Maurice Moore Primary School.
  • An evacuation can mean moving to a safer place on the same island or moving to another island. Do not go back to an evacuated area until the authorities say it is safe.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Police, fire, and ambulance 919 Free from any cell phone or pay phone. You can also dial 911.
Police, fire, and ambulance 911 Free from any cell phone or pay phone. You can also dial 919.
DRM Authority Operations Centre 242-322-6081 Disaster Risk Management Authority. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 24 hours when the Operations Centre is activated. Not for life threatening emergencies.
DRM Authority line for the Family Islands 242-322-6731 For callers on the Family Islands only. Same hours as the Operations Centre.
Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters 242-322-4444 General inquiries, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Not for emergencies.

Official alerts and information

  • Get Ready event dashboard (DRM Authority): During an active storm, the DRM Authority posts warnings, evacuation orders, and activated shelters here, updated every 3 to 4 hours. Website.
  • Bahamas News and Emergencies App (BNEA): The government's official app for news and emergency alerts. The page links the iPhone app and an Android version. Website.

National resources

  • Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Authority: The national disaster agency, with news and current storm updates. Website.
  • Get Ready (DRM Authority): The DRM Authority's preparedness site: supply kits, family plans, and checklists to download. Website.
  • Evacuation (Get Ready): How evacuations work, with an evacuation checklist. Follow official evacuation orders. Website.
  • People with Disabilities (Get Ready): Planning advice for older people and people with disabilities, including a seven day supply of medicines and accessible transportation arranged ahead of time. Website.
  • Care for Your Pets (Get Ready): How to plan for pets, including a pet emergency kit with at least two weeks of food, water, and medicine. Website.

For state agencies across the country, see the official sources page.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Hurricane shelters open only when officials announce them. The DRM Authority publishes an official 2026 hurricane shelter list for every island, including special needs shelters, so you can find your nearest shelter before a storm. During a storm, the DRM Authority lists activated shelters on its event dashboard. Some shelters may not accept pets, so plan ahead for your animals.

Official list of open evacuation centers

Radio, TV and weather

Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.

Official forecasts

  • Bahamas Department of Meteorology: Official forecasts, weather alerts, and tropical storm and hurricane messages for The Bahamas. Website.
  • National Hurricane Center: US hurricane forecasts for storms near The Bahamas. The DRM Authority uses it as a source. Follow the Department of Meteorology and the DRM Authority for official alerts. Website.

Power, water and debris

  • Bahamas Power and Light (BPL): New Providence and the Family Islands. Call for updates on current outages, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, or report an outage online. Phone: 242-225-5275. Website.
  • BPL downed power lines: Report any downed power lines. Stay away from them, and from flooded areas, puddles, and debris where they may be hidden. Phone: 242-323-5561. Website.
  • Grand Bahama Power Company: The only electricity provider on Grand Bahama. 24 hour call centre. The link reports an outage. Phone: 242-352-8411. Website.
  • Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC): Call centre, 24 hours. WSC says to store water before a hurricane, and that well water is very unsafe after flooding. Phone: 242-302-5599. Website.

Sources

Checked on October 3, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.