Vandals target $4.5M Hurricane Shelter in Abaco

A hurricane shelter under construction in Central Pines, Abaco, was vandalized overnight, raising new concerns about how it could affect the facility during the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

The extent of the damage is unclear, but reports indicate vandals may have attempted to set a fire inside the unfinished facility.

The facility, which was initially budgeted at $1.8 million, has ballooned to an estimated $4.5 million — a figure that includes several change orders and construction adjustments.

Designed to accommodate roughly 200 residents during a hurricane, the shelter is intended to be a critical asset on an island still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Construction on the Marsh Harbour-based shelter began in December 2020 under the Minnis administration, with a projected completion date of May 2021. Nearly four years later, the project remains unfinished, although officials say it is now in the final stages.

The recent act of vandalism comes at a critical time as the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season begins to ramp up. It remains uncertain whether the incident will delay the shelter’s completion.