Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis tells The Associated Press that his nation is in a financial pickle.

Hurricane Lee is charging through warm Atlantic waters and threatening to unleash heavy swells across the northeast Caribbean.

The grocery store chain received criticism for the cakes last year as Hurricane Ian battered Southwest Florida.

Lightning is rare in hurricanes, so when the number of lightning flashes close to the storm center increases it’s a sign the hurricane is about to ramp up.

HAFS was the most accurate model to predict Cat 5 Hurricane Dorian as it hit the Bahamas Sept 2019. This model is still in development but took top place for track accuracy during the 2019 hurricane season, according to hurricane scientists at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML). The regional and global HAFS had lower track errors during the 2019 hurricane season compared to other NOAA models. In cases like Hurricane Dorian, the regional HAFS track outperformed the GFS, HWRF and HMON. AdHAFS never predicted hurricane Dorian to hit Florida while the GFS (A), HWRF (B), and HMON (C) all did.

It was part of a chain of events that sparked research into using oak mulch to combat citrus disease, and the results are helping trees survive. Researchers rented a wood chipper to make oak mulch in Ft. Pierce after hurricane damage. (Indian River Research and Education Center)Scientists have been looking for ways to help Florida citrus growers fight the most severe citrus disease in history and the solution may be to spread oak mulch around the drip line of citrus trees. Months of data showed oak amendments improved the soil and that the compounds in the mulch help citrus trees weather the disease. In the meantime, if you have any fallen oak trees, you may want to find a wood shredder and chip away for more fruitful days ahead.

After several Nor’easters and pounding waves from Hurricane Dorian the artificial reef offshore St. Johns county is holding up remarkably well. A popular fishing and dive site called the Starship Reef is coming up on its two year anniversary this October and life is flourishing on concrete structures placed 70 feet deep. The reef’s project manager, Joe Kistel, recently took a video showing an abundance of biodiversity attracted to the spot which includes soft and hard corals along with popular reef fish such as red snapper. Kistel who works for an organization called TISIRI says the reef is working as designed and has attracted many anglers to the fishing spot. He does see a need for clean-up maintenance from snared fishing lines often common on underwater obstructions; many of which are precast concrete surplus and donated reef rock shipped in from California.

Strength is shown across the globe with Super Cyclone Amphan, recently becoming the strongest storm on record in the Bay of Bengal. “The change is about 8% per decade,” according to researcher Jim Kossin, who is an expert on hurricanes and recently discovered hurricanes are also slowing down in forward speed by 10%. Stronger slower storms are an evenly deadlier combination as witnessed by Hurricane Dorian which was nearly stationary over Grand Bahama Island and Hurricane Harvey that parked over Houston. Nearly all significant damage and deaths are caused by major Category 3 to 5 hurricanes. What’s driving stronger storms?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rain, wind, flooding, heat and tornadoes: Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia saw it all in 2019. As 2019 comes to an end, we’re looking back at the weather events that shaped 2019:In April, a round of severe storms across Southeast Georgia produced a tornado that touched down in Camden County. “We did know there was some severe weather but we thought thunderstorms, heavy rain," Thigpen told News4Jax. To round out the year, a round of severe weather in early December produced an EF1 tornado in Flagler County. In early December, a round of severe weather produced an EF1 tornado.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, which ends on November 30, was marked by tropical activity that churned busily from mid-August through October. NOAA’s outlook called for 10-17 named storms, 5-9 hurricanes and 2-4 major hurricanes, and accurately predicted the overall activity of the season. Hurricane Dorian is tied with three other hurricanes — the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, 1988’s Hurricane Gilbert and 2005’s Hurricane Wilma — as the second strongest hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin in terms of wind (185 mph). During the 2019 season, NOAA’s hurricane hunter aircraft and crews flew 57 missions over 430 hours, which along with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the Air Force Reserve, provided critical data that aided in storm forecasting and research. The 2020 hurricane season will officially begin on June 1 and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will provide its initial seasonal outlook in May.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – For Florida, the 2019 hurricane season will be remembered for a gigantic, nerve-racking scare over the Labor Day weekend. But Florida avoided a strike in September from Hurricane Dorian after the mega-storm devastated parts of the Bahamas. And with the Sunshine State still recovering from Hurricane Michael in 2018 and Hurricane Irma in 2017, this year’s season was more psychologically challenging than physically taxing for Floridians. By comparison, Hurricane Michael caused an estimated $7.4 billion in insured losses when it slammed into Northwest Florida in 2018. Otherwise, the six-month 2019 hurricane season had the smallest impact on Florida in four years.

ABACO ISLANDS, Bahamas - There are still no hotels, restaurants or electricity on the hardest-hit islands of the Abaco, yet volunteers from the Jacksonville area continue to visit the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. News4Jax anchor and reporter Vic Micolucci returned to the Bahamas last week for the fourth time with a group of St. Johns County do-gooders determined to make a difference. Luc Renaud and Benjamin Swatez, both from St. Augustine, have spent the last month in the Bahamas, visiting schools and shelters with their group called the Goodness Tour. But at the end of it all, we made it," said Nadia McDermott, a teacher at Fox Town primary. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Since the documentary aired on News4Jax, others have gotten involved to help those hardest hit by the Category 5 hurricane. Among those who have brought hope and love to the Bahamas all the way from the Jacksonville area are Super Bowl champion and Jaguars linebacker Najee Goode and his wife, Jasmine Goode. "Everything that weve learned down here has been very inspirational from that standpoint," Najee Goode said. With two children at home, the Goodes felt compelled to help the hardest-hit children in the Bahamas. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

A "miracle" dog rescued from the rubble of the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian gets new home. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

A dog who miraculously survived after being trapped underneath debris for weeks after Hurricane Dorian tore through the Bahamas in September met his new family Tuesday. (CNN) - LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, Fla. (WPTV via CNN Wire) -- A dog who miraculously survived after being trapped underneath debris for weeks after Hurricane Dorian tore through the Bahamas in September met his new family Tuesday. Miracle the dog spent weeks recovering and rehabilitating at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Groves. Big Dog Ranch Rescue's veterinary team started treating each condition, and earlier this month, Miracle began learning to walk again. A spokesperson with the facility said that since Miracle arrived at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, more than 10,000 adoption requests have come in from around the world.

New hope is heading to the Bahamas after the islands were pummeled by Category 5 Hurricane Dorian. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Two men observe a squall caused by Hurricane Dorian looming in the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 3, 2019. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for 12 Florida counties in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. After devastating the Bahamas, Dorian approached the Florida peninsula as a Category 4 hurricane. Dorian caused at least 150,000 power outages in Florida, mostly due to downed trees. As of Oct. 4, 5,764 claims from Hurricane Dorian had been filed in Florida, with estimated insured losses at $19 million, according to the state Office of Insurance Regulation.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Northeast Florida is continuing to help Bahamians in need after Hurricane Dorian. Jacksonville University students and others held a relief drive Saturday for those devastated by Dorian. "My family was directly hit," JU student Shalonda Neeli said. Neeli, along with the Red Cross, the Caribbean Student Association and the International Student Organization, are all working together to help any way they can. JU relief efforts began immediately after Hurricane Dorian hit.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Northeast Florida is continuing to help Bahamians in need after Hurricane Dorian. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

These pictures are of Hope Town. (Julia Strube)If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - News4Jax and Sun-Ray Cinema are teaming up for a special showing of WJXT Channel 4's documentary on the disaster in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. The film, 96 Hours of Anguish, which premiered on News4Jax two weeks ago, is making its big screen debut in Jacksonville. Tickets are $10. All proceeds will be donated to the Love & Life Foundation, a non-profit organization, which is helping rebuild the Bahamas. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - When Hurricane Dorian took a turn last month and avoided landfall in Florida, it largely spared the states insurance industry from getting hit with claims. Only 5,764 claims from Hurricane Dorian had been filed in Florida as of Oct. 4, with estimated insured losses at $19 million, according to information posted on the state Office of Insurance Regulation. By comparison, Hurricane Michael, which devastated parts of Northwest Florida last year, has generated about 150,000 claims and $7.16 billion in estimated insured losses. Hurricane Dorian flattened parts of the Bahamas and threatened Florida before staying off the states East Coast. Of the 5,764 claims filed, 3,113 involved residential property, the Office of Insurance Regulation numbers show.

Learn more about the efforts to support the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla – After Hurricane Dorian devastated parts of the Bahamas, many are asking where they can donate and which charities are trustworthy. While many groups have pulled out of the relief mission, these groups remain on the ground daily, working to make a difference. Founder Jimbo Stockton is based in Jacksonville BeachMedical teams responding to Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. A foundation formed after Hurricane Dorian that is bringing tents, food, water and aircraft to the Bahamas. The group has been on the ground in the Bahamas, flying through Marsh Harbour since immediately after the hurricane.

Tents are set up in front of homes destroyed by Hurricane Dorian at a luxury resort in Castaway Cay, Abaco, Bahamas. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)JACKSONVILLE, Fla - After Hurricane Dorian devastated parts of the Bahamas, many are asking where they can donate and which charities are trustworthy. While many groups have pulled out of the relief mission, these groups remain on the ground daily, working to make a difference. Founder Jimbo Stockton is based in Jacksonville BeachMedical teams responding to Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. A foundation formed after Hurricane Dorian that is bringing tents, food, water and aircraft to the Bahamas.

"I need plenty of stuff now -- bed, food, water, a sheet," said Aimimni Nini, who is living in a shelter. "We work with partner organizations to give the supplies, building materials, food, water." That means getting Bahamians back on their feet will be an unprecedented challenge. Each new day brings new light, new hope and new opportunities as Bahamians recover one day at a time. While I was on the ground during my third trip, I spoke with volunteers with a number of relief groups that are still working to help those in the Bahamas.

Want to help with Hurricane Dorian relief and be treated to some music at the same time? Andy Bruck, president of the American Federation of Musicians Local 444, said the unique twist on a fundraiser will be at the Southern Roots Filling Station at 1275 King St. in Jacksonville. Bruck said 100% of ticket sales collected for the event will be donated to the American Red Cross for relief from the Dorian disaster. The organization is fully on board to help successfully guide the long-term response necessary in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Bruck reached out to JP and Mariah Salvat, the owners of Southern Roots, about hosting the fundraiser to address the damage and disruption to so many lives wrought by Hurricane Dorian.

(CNN) - Rescuers say they found a puppy alive in the rubble of a collapsed building, one month after Hurricane Dorian ravaged parts of the Bahamas. Members of Big Dog Ranch Rescue found the dog, now named "Miracle," on Friday in Marsh Harbour using infrared detection from a drone, the organization's spokesman Chase Scott told CNN. Scott said that Miracle was nearly crushed to death after a building collapsed, trapping him under broken glass, an air conditioning unit and building debris. Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas in early September, killing dozens of people and leaving hundreds of others missing. So far, Big Dog Ranch Rescue has saved 139 dogs.

PALM COAST, Fla. - Flagler County is accepting disaster assistance applications for Hurricane Dorian related damages. The assistance is available for income-eligible homeowners in the county who meet Residential Mitigation Retrofit Program and State Housing Initiatives Partnership guidelines. The Residential Mitigation Retrofit Program is a grant-funded program through the Florida Division of Emergency Management Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program. The SHIP Disaster Assistance Program is funded through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation from the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund. The program is intended to assist homeowners with critical repairs and homeowner insurance deductibles for Dorian related damages to their single-family homes.

Students and staff at Oakleaf High School helped pack donations for Bahamas relief Friday, trying to help those devastated by Hurricane Dorian. Their efforts started five days ago with a simple post to social media asking for supplies for Student Ambassadors for Bahamas Relief. Throughout the week they've received water, food, clothes, flood buckets and much more. "There's still more help needed," said Sonia Belgrave, math specialist at Oakleaf High School. The school has partnered with Sysco International Food Group during the donation process and the company has paid some of the expenses for several donations.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla - Just over a month after Hurricane Dorian ripped through the Bahamas, about 600 people are still missing and thousands are in shelters after losing their homes. During a third trip to the island nation, News4Jax visited many of the same areas -- places that havent been cleaned up, like Marsh Harbour. LINK: Trusted Hurricane Dorian relief groups on the ground in the BahamasNews4Jax saw few government entities in the Bahamas and many nonprofits have pulled out. Pastor Peter Watson, with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is remaining optimistic in Marsh Harbour. "I think Marsh Harbour will return to what it was or better by God's help," Watson said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla - Just over a month after Hurricane Dorian ripped through the Bahamas, about 600 people are still missing and thousands are in shelters after losing their homes. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla - Students at a Jacksonville charter school are helping parts of the Bahamas that were devastated by Hurricane Dorian. To raise money, students at River City Science Academy came up with an idea to raise funds, allowing other students who would typically wear uniforms the option to "dress down" in clothes that fit their style for $5. Students could choose to donate any additional amount they wished. The school identified Team Rubicon to be the recipient of the funds, an international nonprofit founded by veterans. As an added bonus, Team Rubicon donations were matched by PepsiCo, allowing River City Science Academy to make an even larger impact.

Just over a month after Hurricane Dorian ripped through the Bahamas, about 600 people are still missing and thousands are in shelters after losing their homes. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Two students from UNF stop by the Morning Show with more on a fundraiser to help those affected by Hurricane Dorian.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the Bahamas strives to recover from Hurricane Dorian, News4Jax anchor and reporter Vic Micolucci on Monday traveled to the Bahamas to bring supplies to some of the hurricane victims. One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, Dorian razed parts of the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm. In the immediate aftermath of Dorian, Micolucci spent 96 hours on the ground with relief crews in the hardest-hit areas of the Bahamas. Though this week marks Micolucci's third time in the Bahamas since Dorian, he said the devastation and desperation still remain everywhere he looks. Although groups are bringing food, water and supplies, Micolucci said it is a difficult situation.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the Bahamas strives to recover from Hurricane Dorian, News4Jax anchor and reporter Vic Micolucci on Monday traveled to the Bahamas to bring supplies to some of the hurricane victims. One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, Dorian razed parts of the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm. In the immediate aftermath of Dorian, Micolucci spent 96 hours on the ground with relief crews in the hardest-hit areas of the Bahamas. Though this week marks Micolucci's third time in the Bahamas since Dorian, he said the devastation and desperation still remain everywhere he looks. Although groups are bringing food, water and supplies, Micolucci said it is a difficult situation.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the Bahamas strives to recover from Hurricane Dorian, News4Jax anchor and reporter Vic Micolucci on Monday traveled to the Bahamas to bring supplies to some of the hurricane... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the Bahamas strives to recover from Hurricane Dorian, News4Jax anchor and reporter Vic Micolucci on Monday traveled to the Bahamas to bring supplies to some of the hurricane... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

FREEPORT, Bahamas - Grand Bahamas resident Tanya Fox ignored evacuation warnings three years ago when Hurricane Matthew pummeled the Bahamas with its Category 4 fury and survived in a nearby hotel. Dorian left a calamitous trail of destruction in the Bahamas; at ground zero lay the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. The Bahamian government said this week Abaco and Grand Bahama, alone, had lost $60 million in crops and marine resources. Now, almost a month after Dorian, Bahamians are left to assess the loss and devise a plan to recovery. Residents have taken to burning debris in some areas, as they pick up the mess Dorian left behind.

There's still 600 people missing after nearly a month from when Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Students and staff at Oakleaf High School helped pack donations for Bahamas relief Friday, trying to help those devastated by Hurricane Dorian. Their efforts started five days ago with a simple post to social media asking for supplies for Student Ambassadors for Bahamas Relief. "There's still more help needed," said Sonia Belgrave, math specialist at Oakleaf High School. "The more you give, the more you receive, and we're blessed to be a blessing." The school has partnered with Cisco during the donation process and the company has paid some of the expense for several donations.

More than two dozen wild horses from the Outer Banks were found dead in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

WATCH: WJXT Films documentary '96 Hours of Anguish'As a reporter, I went into "hurricane mode." On Sept. 1, Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Abacos Islands, in the northern part of the Bahamas. But, with our coverage area out of the cone of concern, I had a chance to catch up on the Bahamas. WJXT Films documentary, "96 Hours of Anguish," was produced by Jodi Mohrmann, Mike Jones and Josh Beauchamp. It's dedicated to the people of the Bahamas and the revival of the islands so many of us love.

WATCH: WJXT Films documentary '96 Hours of Anguish'As a reporter, I went into "hurricane mode." On Sept. 1, Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Abacos Islands, in the northern part of the Bahamas. But, with our coverage area out of the cone of concern, I had a chance to catch up on the Bahamas. WJXT Films documentary, "96 Hours of Anguish," was produced by Jodi Mohrmann, Mike Jones and Josh Beauchamp. It's dedicated to the people of the Bahamas and the revival of the islands so many of us love.

News4Jax reporter Vic Micolucci spent 96 hours on the ground with relief crews in the hardest-hit areas of the Bahamas. You can see firsthand the damage Hurricane Dorian left behind in the hour-long documentary, "96 Hours of Anguish," presented by WJXT Films.

Vic Micolucci spent four days on the ground, with relief crews in the hardest-hit areas of the Bahamas. You can see firsthand the damage Hurricane Dorian left behind through our camera. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

MARSH HARBOUR, Bahamas - It was hard to watch the path of Hurricane Dorian a slow, yet unbelievable powerful monster churning in the Atlantic. On Sept. 1, Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Abacos Islands, in the northern part of the Bahamas. But, with our coverage area out of the cone of concern, I had a chance to catch up on the Bahamas. But there were concerns: No air traffic control in the Bahamas, debris on runways, no infrastructure and reports of violence. It's dedicated to the people of the Bahamas and the revival of the islands so many of us love.

Water, water everywhere. Public schools in undamaged areas, such as Nassau, re-opened Sept. 9, and some private schools across the islands reopened last week for the start of their school year. At least five private schools were among the first on Grand Bahama to reopen after the storm. On South Abaco, which escaped the worst of the hurricane, Moore's Island Public School and Crossing Rocks Primary School reopened. Henfield, the first-grade teacher, has no answer for frustrated parents who want to know when public schools on the island might reopen their doors.

Vic Micolucci spent four days on the ground, with relief crews in the hardest-hit areas of the Bahamas. You can see firsthand the damage Hurricane Dorian left behind through our camera.

News4Jax anchor and reporter Vic Micolucci spent 96 hours on the ground and in the air in the hardest hit areas of the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. He joins us with a preview of a special broadcast... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

SUMMER HAVEN, Fla. - For the first time since Hurricane Dorian skirted Floridas Atlantic Coast, News4Jax heard Monday from those who live along Old A1A in Summer Haven who say getting to their homes is almost impossible. The road, which has been washed out over time, has been closed for nearly three years. A second resident told News4Jax she and her husband were in the middle of remodeling their home when Irma brought rising waters to the area. The renovation was supposed to take three to five months, and we have been renovating now for almost two years, the second resident said. I can tell you at my house on a bad day, theres no beach, the second resident said.

Since Hurricane Dorian, residents who live along Old A1A say accessing their home has gotten worse. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - Wildlife officials and volunteers in St. Johns County are keeping a close eye on turtle nests along the coast, after Hurricane Dorian wiped out nearly all the nests in one coastal community. A majority of the nests were lost there when Hurricane Dorian moved up the Florida coast, creating rough surf and powerful storm surge. Sea turtle eggs could be seen washed up on the beach and the road away from their nests the day Dorian hit. According to Libert, on Sept. 1 the day before Dorian, there were 25 nests on Summer Haven. With several weeks left in hurricane season, Libert worries they will lose the nests that remain if another storm threatens the coast.

Efforts are still being made locally to help Bahamian victims of Hurricane Dorian. Maple Street Biscuit Company opened its doors for a brunch fundraiser on Sunday. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

The Maple Street Biscuit Company is one of the businesses that stepped up to help. Usually on Sundays, the restaurant is closed, but the doors were opened specifically to raise money for the islanders who lost everything to Hurricane Dorian. The Maple Street Biscuit Company has locations in Murray Hill, Jacksonville Beach, Point Meadows, St. Augustine, Julington Creek, and Fleming Island. Other Maple Street locations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee also participated in the fundraiser. You can see firsthand the damage Hurricane Dorian left behind through our camera.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville families continue to rally to help those still suffering in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. Providence School of Jacksonville started a Bahamas Recovery Project two weeks ago to fill a 53-foot semi-trailer with supplies to send to the devastated islands. Provided by Providence SchoolAfter two weeks the truck was stuffed with generators, tarps, medical items, cleaning supplies, diapers, food, water and more. EMS Shipping will help deliver the supplies from South Florida to the Bahamas. Provided by Providence SchoolBefore the truck headed out, the Lower School students at Providence took time to pray over the truck and bless its journey and those who will be helped by the supplies.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Though Hurricane Dorian stayed off Floridas East Coast, it has led to nearly 4,000 insurance claims and $18.8 million in estimated insured losses, according to information posted on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. In all, 3,961 claims from Dorian had been reported as of Monday, with more than half -- 2,288 -- involving residential property. The massive Dorian caused widespread fears in Florida early this month before it steered away from the coast, sparing residents, businesses and insurance companies from costly damage. As a comparison, last years Category 5 Hurricane Michael, which decimated parts of Northwest Florida, caused an estimated $6.9 billion in insured losses, according to the Office of Insurance Regulation. Editor's note: In an article Tuesday, the News Service of Florida incorrectly reported the number of residential property-insurance claims from Dorian.

GRAND ABACO, BAHAMAS - SEPTEMBER 05: People leave the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport after not being able to evacuate the island on September 5, 2019 in Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian hit the island chain as aTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida lawmakers who have family members living in the Bahamas gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday to discuss relief efforts after Hurricane Dorian caused massive damage in the island nation. The lawmakers called for the federal government to ease visa requirements to help Bahamians enter the United States. We dont need the border patrol making it more difficult now than it was before the hurricane.Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, said Bahamians are resilient people. All they want from us is a helping hand.News Service of Florida

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - The St. Johns County School District on Wednesday announced a makeup day for school that students missed due to Hurricane Dorian. The School District identified the makeup day as:Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. The School District said the day was originally scheduled to be a teacher planning day, but it has been changed to a regular school-day with all students in attendance. All employees will be directed by their supervisor regarding make up time options, the School District said. On Tuesday, the Duval County school district announced two days have been set as hurricane makeup days.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Nearly $10 million in property-insurance claims have been filed for Hurricane Dorian, which skirted Florida's East Coast this month. Meanwhile, state Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier said insurance companies continue to face pressure to close thousands of claims still open after Hurricane Michael last October. Estimated insured losses from Hurricane Michael top $6.9 billion. Lawmakers this year revamped assignment of benefits after insurers complained about fraud and litigation in property-insurance claims, though the complaints primarily centered on claims for water damage such as busted pipes -- not hurricane claims. That has delayed some settlements because the cause of damage -- wind or water -- has yet to be determined, Altmaier said.

RELATED: Volunteers deliver sandbags to flood-prone Northside neighborhoodFor years, the low-lying, low-income neighborhood, with Ken Knight Drive homes backing up to the Ribault River, has flooded. Just in case I have to go out, I can walk out in the water," longtime Ken Knight Drive resident Velma Aiken said. Priestly Jackson said she first requested sandbags from the city and a member of the mayors staff contacted a local nonprofit to supply Ken Knight Drive residents with sandbags. Moving forward, Priestly Jackson believes the city should be supplying communities, such as Ken Knight Drive, with sandbags and other supplies. "I anticipate that my colleagues on the council and others are going to talk about the need to have sandbags available to our residents in Jacksonville," Priestly Jackson said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Duval County school district on Tuesday announced the two makeup dates for the schooldays that students missed due to Hurricane Dorian. Duval County Public Schools identified the two weather makeup days as:Monday, Oct. 21, 2019Friday, Jan. 17, 2020These dates are reflected in the updated 2019-20 school calendar available here. Duval County students missed school Sept. 3-5. Though Dorian resulted in three lost days, according to DCPS, only two days -- Oct. 21 and Jan. 17 -- were identified as needed makeup days. To address the days students missed from school due to Hurricane Dorian, the district has identified two weather "make-up days:Monday, Oct. 21, 2019Friday, Jan. 17, 2020These dates are reflected in the updated 2019-20 school calendar.

A man with a plan is going to help the Bahamas recover after Hurricane Dorian by ensuring people on the island have fresh water. The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

"North Florida was great to us (South Florida) when we had Irma come through. I think we tried to do the same thing back to the Panhandle when Michael came through," said Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach. "It's just something I think we as a state need to look at for the long-term protection of our citizens." Because of an increase in powerful hurricanes affecting the state, the annual Long-Range Financial Outlook, put together by Baker's office, suggests establishing a new fund to collect reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The forecast cautions that the state's economic stability remains vulnerable to the potential impacts of natural disasters, especially major hurricanes, and outside forces such as escalating trade tensions and global economic downturns.

Some of that aid will be coming via a special World War II-era plane from Montana. (CNN) - Aid is pouring into the Bahamas as the relief effort after Hurricane Dorian ramps up. Some of that aid will be coming via a special World War II-era plane from Montana. The C-47 plane, known as Miss Montana, left the state on Saturday for its trip down south. Earlier this year, Miss Montana flew to Europe to take part in the festivities commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

It's been two weeks since Hurricane Dorian ravaged much the Bahamas. A Jacksonville woman, whose family lives in Freeport, shows their living conditions, and the mess they are still dealing with. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A Jacksonville woman whose family lives in Freeport, Bahamas, spoke out about the scope of the damage done by Hurricane Dorian. She got a glimpse of the devastation the powerful storm caused in Freeport by watching a video sent by her sister. Filibert said her sister has not showered since the storm, and she's trying to help her with that. Everywhere we go, we can only do so much to help so many people because there are so many people who need help." She has collaborated with Adventist Community Services to secure a vendor to have portable shower units shipped to the Bahamas, but they need funding.

CNN Weather(CNN) - The Bahamas missed the brunt of Tropical Storm Humberto, which is expected to become a hurricane Sunday. Humberto is moving away from the Bahamas and is about 180 miles (290 km) northwest of Great Abaco Island and 165 miles (270 km) east of Cape Canaveral, Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is slowly strengthening and is expected to become a hurricane on Sunday, said CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam. The storm is forecast to continue moving away from the Bahamas and remain well offshore of Florida's east coast through Wednesday, the center said. The islands did get some rain, Van Dam said, but did not get Humberto's full impact.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(CNN) - NBA star Klay Thompson has been visiting his family in the Bahamas since he was a kid. Thompson is raising money for relief efforts in the island nation, he announced in an Instagram post Friday. In the post, he said 100% of the proceeds from his second annual Thompson Family Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament, scheduled for September 19 and 20, will go toward relief efforts throughout the Bahamas. Thompson, 29, whose father is Bahamian, said he's been lucky to be able to visit his family in Nassau since he was a child. The Thompson Family Foundation was created in 2018 by Klay and the rest of the members of the his immediate family, who are all listed as co-founders.

A tropical depression is poised to hit the same northern Bahamian islands that Hurricane Dorian ravaged earlier this month -- and it may be a tropical storm when it does. (CNN) - Humberto is now a tropical storm barreling its way through the Atlantic and threatening the same northwestern Bahamas islands ravaged by Hurricane Dorian nearly two weeks ago. A tropical storm warning was in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, excluding Andros Island, the center said. "Since there is increasing confidence that the storm will remain well offshore of the coast of Florida, the tropical storm watch for that area has been discontinued," the center said. Swells generated by the tropical storm are expected to increase and affect the coasts of central Florida to South Carolina through early next week.

A tropical depression is poised to hit the same northern Bahamian islands that Hurricane Dorian ravaged earlier this month -- and it may be a tropical storm when it does. The storm strengthened into a tropical depression Friday afternoon, and likely will grow in strength into a tropical storm named Humberto, with maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph, over the next day, forecasters say. The center of Tropical Depression Nine was about 140 miles east-southeast of Great Abaco at 5 p.m. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for areas of the northern Bahamas. A tropical storm watch has been issued for portions of the east coast of Florida, affecting about 3 million people, according to forecasters.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - St. Johns County residents say they are prepared for whatever storm comes our way this weekend. The St. Johns Emergency Operations Center has opened a hotline for residents with questions or have special needs. At this time, St. Johns County emergency managers said they don't anticipate any evacuations or closures, but they do expect dangerous rip currents, rough surf, and minor beach erosion. "So, why not be proactive rather than reactive?According to St. Johns County, beach renourishment falls under the sole jurisdiction of the State of Florida and the federal government. We need to protect this property and this highway.In Davis Shores, an area surrounded by water, residents said they are prepared for the upcoming storm, too.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A South Florida couple who braved Hurricane Dorian for hours in the attic of their Bahamas vacation home opened up to News4Jax reporter Brittany Muller about surviving the scary ordeal. Their area in the Bahamas suffered damage during Hurricane Matthew three years ago, and they braved Hurricane Andrew in South Florida in 1992, along with several other storms. So Sullivan and his wife took refuge in the attic until the storm passed. "Just waiting, waiting to get a break. Before they took shelter in the attic, Sullivan said the water rose so high he couldn't see the top of his gazebo.

PALM COAST, Fla. - For the second time this month, Flagler County is getting ready for the potential impact of tropical weather. While what appears what is supposed to become Tropical Storm Humberto will never grow into the beast that Hurricane Dorian became before threatening Florida, the first Tropical Storm Watch issued for the mainland on Friday included Jupiter Inlet to the Flagler-Volusia County line. Many people we talked with on Flagler Beach Friday described themselves as stormed out. Rachel Harrington and her family just moved to Flagler County from California and boarded their windows before Hurricane Dorian. He was in Flagler County after he drove 18 hours from New York City to help his parents get ready for Dorian.

With the current forecast track for Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, our local forecast actually improves for the weekend. A Tropical Storm Warning remained in effect for the Northwestern Bahamas, excluding Andros Island. A Tropical Storm Watch was issued Friday for part of Florida's East Coast, from Jupiter Inlet to the Flagler-Volusia County line. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area on the Florida peninsula by Saturday. This graphic shows what the Global Forecast System model predicts for this system over the weekend.

VIDEO: Melanie Lawson sits down with Mayor Lenny Curry to talk about some lessons learned with Hurricane Dorian and preparations for the next storm.

Nassau County Humane society needs your help in adopting the many shelter animals that are here from the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.

The Bahamas struggle to recover after the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After 11 days, the death toll since Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm remains at 50, but more than 1,000 people are missing. News4Jax spent four days on the ground in the hardest hit areas including Marsh Harbor, Fox Town, Treasure Cay and Freeport, witnessing hundreds of Bahamians in dire need. In the video above, reporter Vic Micolucci shows the devastation he witnessed firsthand during his trip. Personnel said they found 10 bodies in four days, and they believe there are many more beneath the debris. Here is a list of the nonprofits News4Jax witnessed on the ground in the Abacos:Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two Northeast Florida gas stations were among more than a dozen around the state where inspectors found credit card skimmers while checking the stations for possible damage after Hurricane Dorian. Use a credit card -- not a debit card: If a credit card number is skimmed, you're protected by the card issuer's zero-liability policy -- but a stolen debit card number could be far more damaging. Choose gas pumps closest to a physical building: Don't use gas pumps out of the attendant's line of sight, such as those around a corner or behind a building. Three gas stations had skimmers found on two pumps, and another station had skimmers found on three pumps. Since Dorian, News4Jax has learned a skimmer was found this week at a Shell gas station off Wells Road in Clay County.

After 11 days, the death toll since Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm remains at 50, but more than 1,000 people are missing. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

After what the Bahamas just endured with Hurricane Dorian, all eyes are keeping watch on what the National Hurricane Center is saying about a new area of disturbance that could become "Humberto." While remaining weak, this would mean wet conditions for nearly the entire area over the weekend. This graphic shows what the GFS model predicts for this system over the weekend. If this were to occur we would see even less rain and wind than what we saw with Dorian. This disturbance will bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds across portions of the Bahamas through Friday, especially in portions of the northwestern Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian.

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. - The Flagler County School District will use a teacher work day scheduled for Oct. 14 as a hurricane makeup day, Superintendent James Tager announced Thursday. Students missed three days of school Sept. 3-5 because of the threat of Hurricane Dorian, which required evacuation orders and the use of schools as shelters. The third day will be made up on Oct. 14, which was originally marked on the Flagler Schools calendar as a Teacher Work Day. But he said if the district needs to close schools again for a weather event, it will need to use other days marked on the yearly calendar as hurricane makeup days. The loss of time from Hurricane Dorian also means progress reports for the first quarter have been pushed back a week, to Sept. 17.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla - Do you have a question you'd like formally addressed by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry following Hurricane Dorian? Curry will be live during The Morning Show on Friday for the first installment of Coffee With Curry. In the first interview, Curry will be talking about the lessons learned during Hurricane Dorian and what the city can do to better prepare for the next storm. If you have a question that's not related to Hurricane Dorian, feel free to ask that too! To submit a question, simply type it in the box below and add your contact information.

NHC(CNN) - A brewing storm system is posing a new threat to the northern islands of the Bahamas hit hard by Hurricane Dorian, and meteorologists say it could likely become a tropical storm over the weekend. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for areas of the northern Bahamas, and a tropical storm watch has been issued for portions of the east coast of Florida, according to the NHC. The new storm system will likely steam toward Florida on Saturday after bringing squally winds and rain to the Bahamas. Those rain totals may be lower, with 1 to 2 inches falling across the northern Bahamas, other forecast models show. It's many days from posing any threat to the United States or the Bahamas, Van Dam said.

(CNN) - Tiger Woods is teaming up with Justin Timberlake to help the Bahamas. Woods, the champion golfer, and Timberlake, the Grammy-winning singer, are helping set up a fund to provide aid and relief for victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. Woods, Timberlake and their partners have already pledged $6 million for the fund and promise to match donations made by the public. "Help us turn this first $6 million into $12 million, and join our efforts to restore and rebuild The Bahamas," Woods wrote. And New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has appealed online for donations to another relief fund.

The UK Ministry of Defence has released aerial images of the damage from Dorian on Great Abaco, in the Bahamas. NASSAU, Bahamas - NASSAU, Bahamas - An estimated 2,500 people are listed as missing in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian crashed ashore nearly two weeks ago, the government said. He urged people to continue submitting missing persons through the hotline or visiting the social services office, which is handling the missing people register. Hurricane Dorian tore though the islands as a Category 5 -- the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in the Bahamas. Dorian's official death toll in the Bahamas now stands at 50, police said, though the grim number is expected to rise.

via CNNNASSAU, Bahamas - An estimated 2,500 people are listed as missing in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian crashed ashore nearly two weeks ago, the government said. The list is preliminary and all the names have not been confirmed against government records and evacuees, said Carl Smith of the Bahamas' National Emergency Management Agency. He urged people to continue submitting missing persons through the hotline or visiting the social services office, which is handling the missing people register. Hurricane Dorian tore though the islands as a Category 5 -- the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in the Bahamas. Dorian's official death toll in the Bahamas now stands at 50, police said, though the grim number is expected to rise.

Great Guana Cay in the Abacos Islands of the Bahamas was hard hit by Hurricane Dorian. I was fighting it for 10 years," Troy Albury, of the Great Guana Cay Fire Department, said of the 585-acre club that caters to wealthy, often-famous patrons who arrive from far beyond its crystal blue waters. Meantime, neighbors in Great Guana Cay have largely helped themselves, stocking food and medical supplies in a church they converted into a shelter. So far, about 5,000 people have escaped the Abaco Islands. Just a ferry ride away, back on Great Guana Cay, residents are grateful to the affluent benefactors whose local ties moved them to dispatch aid days before the authorities arrived.

I spent the days with a team of volunteers from MEDIC Corps and Samaritan's Purse. These people are in Marsh Harbour, the hardest hit area, working around the clock to get supplies in and victims out. These servants, sleeping on the floor at the airport, needed some hot food. Next thing you know, he took the hot food to the airport and brought it to Jacksonville Beach pilot Jimbo Stockton and James Weseman. Sure enough, they put the goods on their plane that was destined for the Abacos.

One week after Hurricane Dorian passed by our area, we're learning elderly people who live at a high-rise community have concerns they could not get out of the Towers of Jacksonville. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As residents in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia are settling down following Hurricane Dorian, others are remembering Hurricane Irma and its destruction. Wednesday marks two years since Irma tore through the First Coast and Golden Isles, leaving millions of dollars in damage in its wake. READ MORE: The Flood and Fury of Hurricane IrmaSome people were impacted in ways they have yet to fully recover from. The effects of Irma were felt in St. Johns County as well where some neighborhoods were underwater for weeks following the storm. The Category 4 hurricane broadsided Cudjoe Key, Florida, on Sept. 10 and churned north across the entire peninsula.

3-year-old Makai Simmons was mobbed by his classmates when he returned to his school in Florida after being stuck for days in the Bahamas during Hurricane Dorian. CNN - After riding out Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, a Florida preschooler got an outpouring of love from his classmates when he returned to school Monday. In the video recorded by his mother, Tekara Capron, Makai starts wiping away tears as someone says "we missed you." "They came and they hugged him and supported him," Capron told CNN. WATCH: Video will autoplay belowCapron told CNN she grew up in the Bahamas and tries to get back there every time she has a holiday weekend.

via CNN(CNN) - Public schools in Palm Beach County, Florida, have begun enrolling Bahamian students who evacuated devastated islands after Hurricane Dorian, a school district spokeswoman said. Fifteen Bahamian children had enrolled as of Tuesday, Julie Houston Trieste said. The young evacuees are welcome at any district school and can register at a central welcome office, she said. HOW TO HELP DORIAN SURVIVORSThe White House has increased staff to help expedite the processing of US visas for Bahamian evacuees, Florida Gov. And no shelters are open for Bahamian evacuees in Florida, DeSantis said.

OCRACOKE, N.C. - Hurricane Dorian was no match for the wild horses that frolic on the beaches in North Carolina. As coastal North Carolina surveys the flooding and devastation after the hurricane crashed ashore last week, it appears the wild horses of the Outer Banks survived yet another monster storm. Unlike human beings living in the Outer Banks, the wild horses are better equipped to handle a hurricane. In the United States, it made landfall in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and brushed other East Coast states. More than 1 million people in parts of South Carolina and North Carolina were under mandatory evacuation orders, forecasters said.

"Everybody here on this island alone says it's easily more than 200," News4Jax anchor and reporter Vic Micolucci said by phone as he traveled with medical volunteers focused on saving lives as conditions get worse. There was only room for one alongside medical volunteers traveling to the center of the destruction from Hurricane Dorian. We have cots and blankets, and the plane is potentially going to bring back some Bahamians that need to be evacuated." @wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/9R9JMiUFx1 Vic Micolucci WJXT (@WJXTvic) September 10, 2019Medical volunteers have been delivering care and medications on a daily basis. The government has estimated that up to 10,000 people from the Abacos alone will need food, water and temporary housing.

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. - The viral story of a woman in the Bahamas who rescued 97 dogs in her home during Hurricane Dorian now has a local twist. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Jim Rogash/Getty Images(CNN) - NBA legend Michael Jordan has jumped into the Bahamas relief effort by announcing he will give $1 million to help the islands impacted by Hurricane Dorian. "I am devastated to see the destruction that Hurricane Dorian has brought to the Bahamas, where I own property and visit frequently," Jordan said in a statement from his manager, Estee Portnoy, on Twitter. Jordan also gave a $2 million donation to support North Carolina after Hurricane Florence last year. The NBA GOAT joins other celebrities who have donated money to the Bahamas after Dorian. Hurricane Dorian left more than 70,000 people homeless in the Bahamas, and at least 50 people have died.

Dean's Blue Hole is a popular attraction in the Bahamas -- and it escaped the wrath of Hurricane Dorian. As these islands begin the slow work of rebuilding, other Bahamian islands remain untouched and open for business. Here's what you need to know about where you can still travel in the Bahamas. -- Bahamas Ferries, which operates within the Bahamas, has resumed sailings, but passengers should check in with reservations for further information and updated schedules by calling +1 242-323-2166. -- Dean's Blue Hole, the 663-foot-deep swimming hole off Long Island that is the second-deepest on the planet, is also still safe to visit.