HELPING: Bluffton legislator ferries supplies to decimated Bahamas

Bahamians cart donated supplies to vehicles amid devastation. Photo provided.

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher  | Bill Herbkersman wanted to do something to make a difference after Hurricane Dorian.  So he got some disaster relief supplies and flew them to Treasure Cay, part of the decimated Abaco Islands of the Bahamas.

A seasoned developer and Republican state representative from Bluffton, Herbkersman made two roundtrips Sunday, each leg of which is about 90 minutes.  He plans to make three trips daily for most of the rest of the week. On each trip, his Cessna 182 single-engine plane, which he describes as a “Suburban with wings,” can haul about 1,100 pounds of whatever he can get — water, food, disinfectants, cleaning supplies and medical supplies, such as stethoscopes, gloves and medicine.

Herbkersman ferried more than a ton of supplies to Treasure Cay on Sunday.

“They need every thing over there,” he said Sunday night from a staging base in Fort Pierce, Fla.  “The people who are doing triage over there said they can really use baby powder and those bottles with bubbles in them for kids so they can keep the kids’ minds off of what happened. … Even a book club can get a case of baby powder.”

Normally, the islands offer beautiful air-to-sea views of deep blue water surrounding lush green islands.  Sunday’s visit looked vastly different, Herbkersman said. The islands were black from all of the dead vegetation.

“When you land, you smell the death when you get out,” he said.

Herbkersman’s journey started Saturday when he loaded up some supplies in Bluffton and flew to Charleston, where he took on more relief material from MUSC and longtime friend and state Sen. Sandy Senn, a Charleston Republican who has some property and connections to Abaco.  Then he flew to Fort Pierce before heading out early Sunday to ferry supplies.

Each round trip costs about $350 in fuel, which Herbkersman is covering.  When asked how others can help, he suggested for people to donate to Mercy Flight, which he said is coordinating aid to be flown in by volunteer pilots who may not be able to cover their fuel. [Note: Mercy Flight confirmed today that it is coordinating aid.]

“It makes you feel good,” he said of his volunteer effort.  “We’re all in this together. Those folks have absolutely nothing.”

Another way you can help

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Charleston confirmed today it is coordinating a shipment of relief goods to the Bahamas. The company will fill up a container, truck it to Port Everglades, Fla., and put it on a vessel directly to the Bahamas.

Here is a list of items that you can take to send via MSC:

Nutrition:  Canned food, dry food, water, baby food

Personal supplies:  Tarps, batteries (any size); toilet paper; paper towels; soap; mosquito repellent; hand sanitizer; wipes; female hygiene products; basic over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, Advil, aspirin.; first-aid kits.

Cleanup supplies:  Mops, bleach, rags, cleansers like Pine-Sol, buckets, brooms, wipes, heavy-duty trash bags

WHERE:  Drop off supplies at the MSC office, 700 Watermark Blvd. in Mount Pleasant, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Wednesday.  The deadline is 5 p.m. Sept. 11.

Gianluigi Aponte, executive chairman and founder of MSC Group, said in a press release: “It is heart-breaking to see the impact and devastation that Hurricane Dorian has brought over the Bahamas and its population. The thoughts and prayers of my entire family are with the people of the Bahamas and their families and loved ones.

“As a family company and one that has lived off the sea for over 300 years, we are fully committed to supporting both immediate and longer-term relief and recovery efforts in the Bahamas. Our businesses have long been closely tied to the Bahamas and its people, with a rich history spanning over many decades. We now look forward to supporting their efforts to rebuild and recover in every way we can and through all our businesses.”

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