San Salvador Hurricane Relief Fund
Donation protected
San Salvador Island in the Bahamas was hit by Hurricane Joaquin, a category 4 hurricane (this means wind speeds over 130 mph!). The island has less than 1000 permanent residents, and limited resources even in good times. It is a small island with very little high ground - most people live within a few hundred yards of the shore. The hurricane dramatically affected the island and all of the islanders.
The Gerace Research Center on San Salvador Island is an old US Navy base that is now used for scientific research and classes, It also provides employment for many island residents, and is the hurricane shelter.
Luckily, this shelter served its purpose well, and all of the people are reported to be okay. However, there was a lot of property damage. The island has very limited food and water resources and still does not have power. It will likely take months or years to repair all of the damage caused by Joaquin.
Elmira College has been taking a Term III class down for decades. They study the ecology and history of the island, and stay at the center. For the past two years, the science faculty have also gone down to do research with students in the summer. Many student groups at the college are fundraising to help them recover from the hurricane.
The fundraiser for this GoFundMe account is Dr. Betsy Smith, a chemistry professor at Elmira College (Elmira, NY), who has been down to the island twice with students.
Money raised in this GoFundMe account will be donated to the Gerace Research Center and used for repairs to the center and to help the islanders repair needed facilities.
The Gerace Research Center on San Salvador Island is an old US Navy base that is now used for scientific research and classes, It also provides employment for many island residents, and is the hurricane shelter.
Luckily, this shelter served its purpose well, and all of the people are reported to be okay. However, there was a lot of property damage. The island has very limited food and water resources and still does not have power. It will likely take months or years to repair all of the damage caused by Joaquin.
Elmira College has been taking a Term III class down for decades. They study the ecology and history of the island, and stay at the center. For the past two years, the science faculty have also gone down to do research with students in the summer. Many student groups at the college are fundraising to help them recover from the hurricane.
The fundraiser for this GoFundMe account is Dr. Betsy Smith, a chemistry professor at Elmira College (Elmira, NY), who has been down to the island twice with students.
Money raised in this GoFundMe account will be donated to the Gerace Research Center and used for repairs to the center and to help the islanders repair needed facilities.
Organizer
Betsy Smith
Organizer
Elmira, NY
