Hurricane Irene Hope Town Bahamas Video Update

New Hurricane Irene Film Released! "Hurricane Irene - Journey To Hope Town". Now available on both DVD and Blu-Ray!

Update 8/26/11 7:00pm ET: I just posted a new blog post that you can find here, of intense Hurricane Irene video footage from Hope Town yesterday. Jim says everyone on the island is doing great, and has started the clean up process. He plans to return to Florida tomorrow if he can get a flight out.

Update 8/26/11 − 9:30am ET: The morning after Hurricane Irene tracked through the central and northern Bahamas, we're just getting some pictures and video in now showing how strong Irene really was yesterday. Storm photographer Jim Edds, who was riding Irene out in Hope Town, Bahamas, was able to get a few pictures out to me this morning after finding some working internet on the small island. Jim said it blew really hard, and now that he’s had the time to walk around more this morning, he can see more significant damage to structures, boats, power poles and trees. I expect to hear more from him in the next hour or two with possibly more video and pictures of the aftermath in Abaco / Hope Town.

Update 8/25/11 − 7:45pm ET: Just heard from Jim! He was able to get a quick call out before the call dropped. He said Irene was very strong, especially the backside of the eye. He said Andrew and the Coffee House did well, but with a little damage. Says there is damage (not sure how bad) all around that he can see, but they planned to tour around more before sunset to see how bad it is, and the surge damage in the low-lying area’s down the road. He also said that he recored a pressure reading of 154mb in the eye, and was able to see some sunlight with the eye passage. I’m still standing by to see if he gets another call out tonight.

Update 8/25/11 − 6:00pm ET: It has now been a little over 12 hours since I last spoke to Jim in Hope Town. Great Abaco took a direct hit from Hurricane Irene earlier this afternoon, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) marked it at the 2pm advisory saying, “EYE OF IRENE OVER ABACO ISLAND," and it was also visible with weather satellite imagery as seen below. I suspect there will be little to no communication tonight from Jim, as the winds I’m sure are still gusting pretty high, and nightfall is very soon. I will post as soon as I hear any news. Thank you to everyone for the great comments below.

Update 8/25/11 − 1:25pm ET: Hurricane Chaser Jim Edds is now likely in the eye of major Hurricane Irene. He remains in Hope Town, and on the visible satellite image below, you can see that Great Abaco is now within the eye of Irene. Still standing by for any word from Jim for the remainder of the day. Check back!

Update 8/25/11 − 10:30am ET: The last time I spoke to Jim was earlier this morning around 5:30am ET. He said that weather conditions were deteriorating rapidly in Hope Town, Bahamas. He said they had wind driven rains coming into one of the windows, and they were working to get that fixed. I gave him an update on Hurricane Irene’s position and strength, as he has no more incoming data, and forecast points for the next six hours from the National Hurricane Center. I’ll let you all know if I get any more calls from him, but with Irene’s eyewall nearing him now, it’s likely cell coverage will be down from this point on.

Major Hurricane Irene 2011 Chase Update

Exclusive: Hurricane chaser videographer Jim Edds is currently located on Great Abaco Island in the northern Bahamas. He is planning to ride out major Hurricane Irene in the small community of Hope Town, which is a smaller island located just to the east of the main island of Great Abaco. Hurricane Irene’s dangerous eyewall looks to track over or very close to his location midday tomorrow as a possible strong category 3 or weak category 4 hurricane. Definitely an intense situation setting up for Jim over the next 24 hours.

Earlier this evening, Jim sent in a video report from the island showing ongoing preparations with the locals, and the deteriorating ocean conditions throughout the afternoon. He’s riding Hurricane Irene out with a local Coffee House owner in Hope Town named Andrew Prosa. Jim spent the day helping Andrew out getting things ready around his property for the storm, and touring around the local area shooting video and still photography before Irene.

More Hurricane Irene Video and Pictures Possible Tomorrow

I will remain in contact with Jim as long as I can either through email or cell phone. He said they have backup power, but expects to lose internet and cell coverage overnight or into the morning hours as the winds pick up. I will try and update as much as I can on Jim’s status here, and you can also follow my Twitter feed @weatherzine. Jim can also be found on Twitter @extremestorms.

All the best from Florida to our island friends to the east in the Bahamas overnight and on Thursday. Be Safe!

Comments

[Jennifer W. Kelly]

Good luck, Jim!!!!

[Shawn N.]

You must be crazy! Good luck Jim and can't wait to see what you catch!

[Mallory]

Thought’s and prayers are with you and your team. Will you be coming to the Carolina’s next?

[Bill Blanchard]

I spent a week in Hope Town earlier this month. I hope that the islanders and their property escape with as little damage as possible. Good luck to everyone on Elbow Cay!

[Steve Coval]

Thanks for the update.
My brother in law, Marsden Lawley, and his wife Melanie secured their sailboat in a hurricane hole and are riding out Irene at Truman's house.

[Sharon]

Jim and Jeff, you guys always have the best hurricane updates and movies. We're all watching closely here in GA. Stay safe guys. - S.

[Birger Rasmussen]

By now I suspect the worst is either upon you or will be shortly. Thanks for what you do and be safe.

[DeLois]

Take care at Hopetown, it is one of most peaceful places in the world. Be safe to our friends at Hopetown Hideways.

[John]

I love hope town great people great place. Good luck Jim hang in there and you are in good company!!!!

[Jennifer W. Kelly]

Holy cow! That's a scary weather sat picture. Hope they'll all safe. :-)

[James Peirce]

Hey Jim take care of Andrew for me and I hope you both ride out the storm safely.

[Gayle Mills]

We saw you make it through Floyd.Be safe,We love you all & your beautiful Island.You are so strong.Prayers & thoughs are with you. Doug & Gayle Mills

[coolchik]

Jim, best of luck! We were among first in to Abaco after Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 and are hoping this won't be anywhere as bad. Harbor Lodge was pretty hard hit then and we're sincerely hoping no severe damage after after all the work they had to put into it after Jeanne. Hope ya'll stay safe!

[Stacey Tomasko]

Everyone please pray for the residents of Hope Town (the eye of the storm passed directly over their heads!). My daughter and her finance sat out the storm because his parents were too elderly to travel. As you know, they have no road access to Marsh Harbor on Abaco Island where everything is located (groceries, bank, hospitals, airport, etc.) and who knows when the ferry will be up and running.

[Kick]

Waiting to hear from you in Hopetown on the outcome of the storm. Hope you are safe and that everyone in the little village is ok.

[Steve]

Hopetown has probably been through worse and recovered, but our prayers should be with them. The residents are true veteran's of severe storms and will pull through as I have seen first hand. Nevertheless life and property are always in danger.
Steve, Alpena, MI

[Anthony Hoffman]

Would Jim be available for an interview tomorrow? Sent contact information via the form. Thank you, Anthony.

[Maridee]

We were there, left Tue. on a chartered plane but our cousin John Arndt stayed. He owns Windward House in the settlement, could you please let me know if he is okay? I'm sure his strong house is fine. I hope all those who remained there for the storm are okay, we were sad to leave the island.

[Stacey Tomasko]

Jim - if you run into Tim Albury and/or his fiance Amanda Larke and/or his parents, Ma and Pa Floyd, please tell them that Amanda's mother would like to know they are OK. Also, wish Amanda a Happy Birthday - she turns 30 today! thanks!!

[Jamey]

Hope all is well in Hopetown. Beautiful place. I was there three weeks ago when the hurricane dissapated over Hispaniola. Not what I had in mind for a vacation, but it worked out well. I pray that Vernon's market was unharmed. If you don't already know, he has the best homemade Banana bread and Key Lime Pie I've ever had. After a stormy scare, you deserve a treat! Good Luck!

[Stacey Tomasko]

Just heard from the Alburys - all is fine. They live next door to Dunrobin Shores Cottage.

[Mollie]

sopke with family down in hopetown, all is well and they faired better than expected. damage was not significant, mostly just cosmetic. most of the dunes though were wiped out and will need to be replaced on the ocean side. surge got to be 3 feet from my grandparents house deck, Hook House. Also heard that a lot of the docks on the sea of abaco side were pretty roughed up. the eye of the storm went right over Marsh Harbour. so glad everyone is safe!

[Chris Sekin]

Dear Hopetown, I visited you last week for the first time in my life. I certainly hope your town is still around. Because I plan to visit you many more times in my life. I also visit Sugarloaf Cay and met a sweet woman named Gayle who lives in the castle overlooking Great Abaco. My thoughts are prayers are with you all.

[Jim Edds]

Thanks for the posts everyone. Andrew and I are sitting here reading them all. Hope Town weathered the storm ok and we are getting the island to looking beautiful again. This is a wonderful place to vacation!

[Dan]

My sailboat, SV White Cloud, 30', is hopefully riding out Hurricane Irene in Hope Town harbour. I haven't seen any video of the harbour or heard from the nearby marina. Must have been pretty wild. If anyone has specific info on sailboats in the harbour it'd be much appreciated.