Pecker is a key witness in the case against the former US president, who is accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payment
- Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) September 2, 2019
A text message seen by AFP from a woman named Kendra Williams, who lives on Grand Bahama said: "We are under water; we are up in the ceiling. Can someone please assist us or send some help. Please. Me and my six grandchildren and my son, we are in the ceiling."
- CNN (@CNN) September 3, 2019
"The tornado came from around this side... My neighbor used to live there. His house ain't even there."
Dorian weakened slightly Monday to a still-devastating Category 4 storm, punishing Grand Bahama with "life-threatening storm surge and catastrophic winds," the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest bulletin.
Fear gripped residents of Freeport, as winds tore off shutters and water began coming into homes, said Yasmin Rigby, reached by text in the Grand Bahama island's main city.
Initial Red Cross estimates were that 13,000 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed by Dorian, officials in Geneva said.
Video posted on the website of the Bahamian newspaper Tribune 242 showed water up to the roofs of wooden houses in what appeared to be a coastal town. Capsized boats floated in muddy brown water dotted with wooden boards, tree branches and other debris.
The NHC warned of a 12 to 18 foot storm surge above tide levels in parts of Grand Bahama, accompanied by large and destructive waves, saying that people on the island should "remain in shelter."
"On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Grand Bahama Island into Tuesday morning," the NHC said.
"The hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late Tuesday through Wednesday evening, and then move dangerously close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and Thursday."
All three eastern US states have ordered coastal residents to evacuate, affecting close to a million people. Neighbouring North Carolina has also declared a state of emergency, as has Virginia farther north.
"If you're in an evacuation zone, get out NOW. We can rebuild your home. We can't rebuild your life."
In southern Florida's Port Saint Lucie - a low-income area where mobile home parks stood all-but emptied of their residents - Dan Peatle, 78, fled his retirement community to take shelter in a hotel.
"It makes me sick. I don't like it," he told AFP as he stepped outside for air before the storm closes in.
"I've been through seven or eight of them since I've been in Florida, since '73. And, they're all the same, you know. Tear everything up, put it back together.
"But, I chose to live here so I might as well live with it, you know."
Pecker is a key witness in the case against the former US president, who is accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payment
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