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President Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday that Prime Minister Minnis told him there could have been “many more casualties” without help from the United States. The president credited the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, himself and the “brave people of the Bahamas” for pulling together in the cataclysmic aftermath of the hurricane.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported Sunday it had already rescued 290 people in the Bahamas and that six MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters were continuing to carry out search-and-rescue missions that are being supported by nine Coast Guard cutters.

About 1,500 Bahamians were evacuated to Palm Beach, Florida, on the Grand Celebration, a Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line cruise ship.

The hardest-hit area of the Bahamas appeared to be Elbow Cay, a once paradisaical barrier island a short boat ride from Marsh Harbour. In all directions, many homes, including vacation residences of the wealthy, are reduced to splinters and streets are covered in debris from major flooding.

\"PHOTO:
ABC News
PHOTO: Senior Lt. William Sturrup of the Royal Bahamian Defense Force tells desperate evacuees to be patient as they wait to leave the Abaco Islands after they were hit by Hurricane Dorian.
>

Local resident Frank Knowles told ABC News that he and his family lost their home to Dorian. He said his wife and daughter were able to evacuate on Saturday to the United States to start their post-hurricane life.

Knowles said he is torn between staying to help rebuild or leaving to be with his family.

Elvis Key, a resident of Elbow Cay, said he and his neighbors were frustrated waiting for help from the government. He said they have already started recovery efforts on their own by clearing clogged streets of debris.

The Bahamian government announced Sunday that it is providing resources to ensure safety and security on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama.

As of Saturday, 274 Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defense Force officers were on Abaco, officials said. Another 666 officers were sent to Grand Bahama.

Additionally, there are large numbers of security forces from Jamaica, the United States and the United Kingdom helping in search-and-rescue efforts on the islands, officials said.

Ronaldo Newton, another resident of Elbow Cay who stayed behind and rode out the ferocious storm, told ABC News the magnitude of the disaster is just setting in.

\"Believe it or not, I'm still actually telling myself, 'You're gonna wake up and this was all a dream,\" Newton said.

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