Caitlin (Hevey) Wilhoyte Hurricane Support

Bruce Hevey's daughter Caitlin (Hevey) Wilhoyte, and her husband Otis, live in Hopetown on Elbow Cay, in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas. Elbow Cay was first landfall for Dorian and the eye passed directly over them packing winds of 200 mph in the eye wall. They rode out the storm on the second floor of Otis parent’s home, which was built to the latest hurricane standards. Otis, Caitlin and the other 6 extended family members, 3 dogs and a cat with them all survived the storm unharmed, though the house had at least 6 ft of water in the first floor at the storms highest surge.

Caitlin and Otis lost their home, along with all their possessions, but they are thankful to come through the devastation of Hopetown alive and well. They are staying in a friend’s cottage that survived, while they work helping in the Hopetown and Elbow Cay recovery effort. In the limited direct communications Bruce has had with her it sounds as if they have the emergency supplies they need while on the island in the near term, but they are basically starting over with nothing but the clothes on their back and no income as they work in the community’s rebuild and recovery.

The following was her first Facebook post after data communications was re-established and very welcomed by all of her family and friends. They haven’t asked for help but certainly any contributions to aid in helping them start anew is appreciated. 




Heeey you guys!!! I know your dying to see these smiling faces so here they are sweaty and exhausted but oh so happy to be here. Considering the details we are now receiving of Dorian’s intensification as it passed over Abaco we are feeling super lucky and grateful. Aid and support is now making its way to us. Most of the community has been evacuated at this point but we will remain here for now as we work on recovering what we can from the wreckage and Otis and his brother work to bring vital generators, trucks, and boats back on line for recovery efforts. We have an amazing team of people on the ground here and we are all taking care of each other, once again this community is proving it’s the people who make this place so. damn. special. We have an international community of folks out there who love this place just as much as we who call it home, there are plenty of us invested in the future of this island that I have no doubt this place will be making its come back sooner than later. Communications are slowly coming back up and we are finally starting to hear the voices of loved ones and see all the messages of love & support. There are just no words for the gratitude we feel from this outpouring. We will try and be in touch and update everyone as we are able, for now know that we are safe and working hard to keep things moving forward. Sending out big LOVE to all of you!! ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤


Hopetown Aerial Photo