Our History
Disaster Risk Management has developed over many years.
The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Authority represents an exciting shift in the Bahamas government’s approach to disaster planning and response – a shift precipitated by the monster hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Know Our History
Full History of Hurricanes in The Bahamas Timeline
Dorian was a wake-up call. It brought unprecedented devastation to the Bahamian islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama and revealed that climate change had made the country’s seasonal enemy significantly stronger.
Hurricane Dorian (2019)
The costliest hurricane in the Bahamas’ history, with sustained winds of 185 mph. It made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on September 1, 2019, causing at least 74 deaths and $3.4 billion in damage.The costliest hurricane in the Bahamas’ history, with sustained winds of 185 mph. It made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on September 1, 2019, causing at least 74 deaths and $3.4 billion in damage.
The Great Abaco Hurricane (1923)
One of four Category 5 hurricanes to hit the Bahamas, with sustained winds of 160 mph. It caused 18 deaths. At nearby Hope Town, a pressure of 921 mbar (27.2 inHg) was recorded, and 83 homes were destroyed while another 63 were severely damaged. At Green Turtle Cay, a large storm surge inundated the entire island, flooding homes, churches, and businesses. At Green Turtle Cay alone, six people died while another 25 were injured. Multiple vessels to the north of Abaco Island also reported low pressure, one even reporting 936 mbar (27.6 inHg) while another vessel recorded 934 mbar (27.6 inHg).
The Great Bahamas Hurricane (1929)
The Great Bahamas Hurricane of 1929, also known as the Great Andros Island Hurricane of 1929, was the only major hurricane during the very inactive 1929 North Atlantic hurricane season. The Great Bahamas Hurricane of 1929 was perhaps one of the greatest and deadliest hurricanes to impact the Bahamas and is often regarded as the greatest Bahamian hurricane of the twentieth century. It was the only storm on record to last for three consecutive days over the Bahamas, with pounding torrential rainfall and strong, gusty winds. The storm killed 134 persons in the Bahamas, mostly mariners and sponge fishermen, as it directly hit the islands of Nassau and Andros.
The 1899 San Ciriaco Hurricane
Killed over 330 Bahamians. The 1899 San Ciriaco Hurricane was a Category 4 hurricane that hit Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, North Carolina, and other areas. It was the costliest and deadliest tropical cyclone in Puerto Rico’s history at the time.
Hurricane Andrew (1992)
One of four Category 5 hurricanes to hit the Bahamas. Hurricane Andrew was a compact, but very powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that struck the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana in August 1992. It was the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida in terms of structures damaged or destroyed, and remained the costliest in financial terms until Hurricane Irma surpassed it 25 years later. Andrew was also the strongest landfalling hurricane in the United States in decades and the costliest hurricane to strike anywhere in the country, until it was surpassed by Katrina in 2005.
Know Our History
Through this forward-thinking and innovative new legislation, the government merged the long-standing National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the comparatively new Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) to create the DRM Authority.
On April 15th, 2024, after 18 months of careful planning and foundation laying by the executive leadership of the DRA and NEMA, the DRM Authority Act came into force. Shortly after that, its directors, board chair, and managing director were appointed, and the organisation began its official operations on July 1st, 2024
Whereas NEMA was responsible for immediate hurricane preparedness activities and the DRA for long-term reconstruction in a storm’s aftermath, the DRM Authority is responsible for implementing the complete cycle of disaster management actions: mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery.
The Authority’s structure as a quasi-government organisation creates an agile, data-driven organisation that, at its core, is focused on safeguarding lives, fostering a culture of preparedness, and ending the financial hardship that the cycle of recovery from successive disaster events has created for both the government and people of the Bahamas.
Through the work and mandate of the DRM Authority, our country can now focus on prevention rather than recovery and on building resilience rather than merely reconstructing what was lost.