Keith Cooper — Surviving Hurricane Dorian's Wrath

Imagine losing everything you have...rebuilding your life...and then just 3 years later — losing it all again! That is what just happened to my friend and to a friend of so many of you reading this!

I am writing to you about longtime friend, Keith Cooper, a proud Bahamian, high school classmate (JIL Class of '74) and  Ecology Tour Operator in West End, Grand Bahama Island — Keith just spent 3 frightening days just trying to survive as Hurricane Dorian roared over his head — changing his life forever in just over 48 hours.

Keith was in the bullseye of the most dangerous storm to ever hit the Bahamas! Hurricane Dorian ( a CAT 5) was the strongest hurricane on record to hit the Bahamas with sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts over 230 mph. Once it made landfall, it hovered over the country — sometimes moving at just 1 mph — for more than 48 hours. All the while, it caused 23 ft storm surges and wind damage, decimating parts of the island chain.

Three years ago, Keith lost nearly everything when Hurricane Mathew came ashore, destroying nearly all of the homes, businesses and livelihoods in its path. Now, just three short years later, our dear friend Keith has once again suffered great losses and needs help to survive and eventually rebuild — That's where ALL OF US  come in...

In addition to being a true friend, Keith Cooper is one of the most giving and inspiring people one will ever meet. He always extends a helping hand to everyone he meets with a smile as big as the ocean...

Keith's family (Williams-Ash families) has resided in West End, Grand Bahama since the mid 1800's.  As a child, Keith was taught by his late grandmother, Julia Ash, the basic elements of how the sea and land provided sustenance for many families residing in the coastal community during the 1900's. Keith is very supportive of the youth and has worked tirelessly to develop environmental stewardship programs for the community and to encourage entrepreneurial opportunities focused on Eco-tourism.

His precious island has beed decimated. His livelihood threatened.

He needs our help NOW more than ever. We need to launch a CAT 5 response with sustained speeds of 185 mph to help him with basic needs — His immediate needs to survive are as follows. This list will most likely be adjusted as we hear more from Keith.

 — A solar powered generator (Gas is not available....power is out across the island). Cost is approximately $5,000 
— Temporary Housing Potential
— Food
— Clothing
— Medications (prescription and non-prescription)
— Dog and Cat Food (his pets survived)
— General Household and Daily Living Supplies (toilet paper, cleaning supplies, mold removers, plastic bags, etc)
— Shop Vac
— Various Battery Powered Tools (large and small)
— Extension Cables
— Radio/Batteries
— Battery powered scooter —again gas is not available
— Costs needed to get the generator and listed supplies to him.

Friends in Florida are working on arranging  for a boat to be loaded up with the above items to take them from Florida to the Bahamas.  To be assured that he receives the items, Keith has given us a designated location where he can meet the boat!

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE...PLEASE heed the need to help our friend Keith Cooper in this unfathomable time of need. If any of us were in his flippers right now, he would be there with that ocean wide smile to extend a helping hand and more...

Let's all band together with a rapid response by meeting the GoFundMe goal we have set up so that Keith can receive these survival items he desperately needs as soon as possible! 

In friendship...In kindness...In caring...In doing the right thing...

In success —

Sincerely,
Ed Bednarczyk 
For Jack Stepoghnzi and all of you—Friends of Keith Cooper