After devastating destruction in the Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian has continued to wreak havoc on its path up the East Coast. The death toll in the Bahamas has risen to forty-five, according to officials investigating those unaccounted for. While official statements have not been made on the number of missing people, some estimates put it in the thousands.

On Friday, Dorian made landfall in the North Carolina Outer Banks. Thankfully, much of the state has been spared from any major issues. Sadly, the same, though, can not be said for the coast. The category 2 hurricane struck the coast with heavy rain, high winds, and frequent tornadoes. 

Ocracoke, an island in the Outer Banks, lost water and power as a result of storm surge and wind damage. While many residents evacuated, eight hundred remained on the island, currently still trapped on the island as accessibility is still extremely limited. Those who evacuated have been allowed to return, but many are unable to do so as the ferries to get to the island are not running. Water was restored to the island, but residents are still under a boil-water notice, according to the Ocracoke Observer. Plans are being formed to set up an island-wide generator, but the timeline on these plans has not been announced. The only school island has been closed indefinitely as many classrooms still have standing water, Tom Pahl, Ocracoke’s county commissioner, explained. There are still many obstacles to overcome before life can return to normal.

As North Carolina and neighboring states work towards recovery, Dorian continued making its way North. The hurricane made landfall in Nova Scotia on Saturday evening. Even after the long path from the Bahamas to Canada, the post-tropical cyclone remained at hurricane category 2 force winds. Power is still out for more than 108,260 people, as of Monday at 10:59 p.m., according to CBC Canada. Neighboring provinces have some power outages as well, with 16,500 in Prince Edward Island and nearly three thousand in New Brunswick. Nova Scotia has also had issues with the cellular connections from most of the area’s major providers. Other damages have included major tree damage, ripped-up sidewalks, and road damage. The Nova Scotia government has stated its commitment to fast and efficient repairs to roads and to the power grid.

While the destruction from the storm has been vast, it’s important to not lose hope. Communities in America and Canada have rallied together to move forward with recovery. School and community drives and volunteering is a great way for those who have not been affected by the damage can help those who have.