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20 21 HURRICANE IRMA / HURRICANE MARIA W hile many in The Bahamas are re- lieved that the majority of the country was spared Hurricane Irma’s wrath, some Bahamians residing in the nearbyTurks and Caicos Islands (TCI), described a nightmare ordeal during the storm’s passage and a traumatizing aftermath. “The damage is really bad and a lot of communi- ties are completely damaged,” said Anni Worrell, a mother of one,who now lives in Providenciales. She said the passage of the stormwas the most intense 13 hours of her life.Hurricane Irma hit the islands late Thursday night into Fridaymorning. According to AccuWeather meteorologist, Jordan Root, the islands experienced some of the worst conditions from the storm,with winds in excess of 150 mph and a dangerous storm surge.The eye of the hurricane passed over the southern part of the BAHAMIANS IN TURKS AND CAICOS RECALL IRMA NIGHTMARE PHOTOS: DIGITALGLOBE PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS - BEFORE IRMA islands,with South Caicos being the hardest hit. Andrea Bassett, also a resident in Providenciales, said,“Communications with some of the family is- lands have still not been established and so you can imagine the worry.We are in Providenciales and by all accounts we are okay, but places like South Cai- cos,where 75 percent of roofs have been ripped off [are not].”A state of emergency has been declared in South Caicos. “The wind sounded like a jet was right outside our front door, or like the propeller of a really, really, big,massive plane was grinding at your front door,” Bassett said, struggling to find the words to describe the sound. She encouraged all her friends and family and anyone else willing to help those who have lost everything in Turks and Caicos to mobilize immediately. She said the loss was great and the need is greater. PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS - AFTER IRMA