hurricane dorian

Celebrity chef Jose Andres prepared to serve tens of thousands of meals to Dorian victims

Friday, September 6, 2019
Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen served millions of meals in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and now they're on the ground in the Bahamas helping those impacted by Hurricane Dorian.
If there's one thing celebrity chef Jose Andres knows, it's that good food provides not only nourishment but also comfort in times of crisis.

Andres and his organization World Central Kitchen hit the ground running even before Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas earlier this week.

"We have a team of chefs and folks, and we come in and set up kitchen operations," Nate Mook, World Central Kitchen's executive director, told AccuWeather in an interview.

When any disaster strikes, be it a hurricane, earthquake or tsunami, the relief team steps out of the kitchen and onto the front lines to provide meals to those in need.

"We have already sent thousands of hot meals, thousands of sandwiches out, and we're still working to make as many meals as we can so we can feed a lot of people," one volunteer explained.

Power company linemen work to restore power after a tornado hit Emerald Isle N.C. as Hurricane Dorian moves up the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.AP
Power company linemen work to restore power after a tornado hit Emerald Isle N.C. as Hurricane Dorian moves up the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.AP
A beach chair hangs in wires as power company linemen work to restore power after a tornado hit Emerald Isle N.C. as Dorian moves up the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.AP
Power company linemen work to restore power after a tornado hit Emerald Isle N.C. as Hurricane Dorian moves up the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.AP
Emerald Isle town employees work to clear the road after a tornado hit Emerald Isle N.C. as Hurricane Dorian moves up the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019AP
Emerald Isle town employees work to clear the road after a tornado hit Emerald Isle N.C. as Hurricane Dorian moves up the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.AP
Emerald Isle town employees work to clear the road after a tornado hit Emerald Isle N.C. as Hurricane Dorian moves up the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.AP
Power company lineman work to restore power after a tornado hit Emerald Isle N.C. as Hurricane Dorian moved up the East Coast on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.AP
Kelsey Myers looks at an overturned tree in her front yard in Summerville, S.C., after Hurricane Dorian passed by Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, in Summerville, S.C.AP
Kelsey Myers looks at an overturned tree in her front yard in Summerville, S.C., after Hurricane Dorian passed by Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, in Summerville, S.C.AP
Debris covers the ground including damage to Summerville High School's football stadium's goal post and signage after Hurricane Dorian passed by, Sept. 5, in Summerville, S.C.AP
Debris covers the ground including damage to Summerville High School's football stadium's goal post and signage after Hurricane Dorian passed by, Sept. 5, in Summerville, S.C.AP
Views of the Bahamas from a Coast Guard Elizabeth City C-130 aircraft after Hurricane Dorian shifts north Sept. 3, 2019.Creative Content
An aerial view of houses in the Bahamas from a Coast Guard Elizabeth City C-130 aircraft after Hurricane Dorian shifts north Sept. 3, 2019.Creative Content
Handout aerial photo of Hurrican Dorian-devastated Abaco Island.Creative Content
View of a flooded street in downtown Nassau on September 3, 2019.Creative Content
Mister Bolter recovers dishes from his son's home, destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in Pine Bay, near Freeport, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019.AP
A catamaran trapped by the waters towards a highway near Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
A boat trapped by the waters towards a highway near Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
Voluntarios rescatan a una mujer incomunicada por el agua en la zona cerca del Puente de Causarina in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
A hat marred with dried mud lies near a home destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in Pine Bay, near Freeport, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019.AP
Volunteers walk under the wind and rain of Hurricane Dorian on a flooded road near the Causarina bridge in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
A United States Coast Guard helicopter flies over the areas affected by the hurricane over a catamaran trapped by the waters near Freeport, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
A chair is caught in a grove blown there by Hurricane Dorian's powerful winds, in Pine Bay, near Freeport, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019.AP
This aerial photograph shows damage to the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This aerial photograph shows damage to the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This aerial photograph shows damage to the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This undated photo provided by Firefly Resort on Elbow Cay in the Bahamas shows damage to the resort property after Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This undated photo provided by Firefly Resort on Elbow Cay in the Bahamas shows damage to the resort property after Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This undated photo provided by Firefly Resort on Elbow Cay in the Bahamas shows damage to the resort property after Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This undated photo provided by Firefly Resort on Elbow Cay in the Bahamas shows damage to the resort property after Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
In this Sept. 2, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, boats litter the area around a marina in the Bahamas after they were tossed around by Hurricane Dorian.AP
Winds from Hurricane Dorian whip through a neighborhood in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Monday, Sept 2, 2019.AP
Julia Aylen wades through waist-deep water carrying her pet dogs as she is rescued from her flooded home during Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
Cars sit submerged in water from Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
This Monday, Sept. 2, 2019 photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard Station Clearwater, shows flooding on the runway of the Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas.AP
Strong winds from Hurricane Dorian blow the tops of trees and brush while whisking up water from the surface of a canal in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019.AP
Matthew Aylen wades through waist-deep water as he is rescued from her flooded home during Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater forward-deployed four MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews in support of search and rescue and humanitarian aid in the Bahamas, Sept. 2, 2019.Creative Content
Residents wade through a street flooded with water brought on by Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
Rain brought on by Hurricane Dorian continues to pour in Freeport, Bahamas, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019.AP
Kristen Davis watches the high surf as winds from Hurricane Dorian blow the fronds of a palm tree, in Vero Beach, Fla., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019.AP
This photo from Josh Terrells shows damage to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This photo from Josh Terrells shows damage to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This photo from Josh Terrells shows damage to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
This photo from Josh Terrells shows damage to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian.Creative Content
A Highland Beach police officer directs traffic as Hurricane Dorian continues to make its way toward the Florida coast on September 02, 2019 in Highland Beach, Fla.Creative Content
Florida Department of Health staffers set up beds at an evacuation shelter at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School in Stuart, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.AP
A man stands on a store's roof as he works to prepare it for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport on Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.AP
Yolande Rolle carries sandbags to place at her shop's doorstep as she prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport on Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.AP
Waves crash in front of an American flag that is planted on a jetty during a high surf from the Atlantic Ocean in Vero Beach, Fla., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019.AP
Florida Department of Health staffers set up beds at an evacuation shelter at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School in Stuart, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.AP
Yolande Rolle puts sandbags at her shop's doorstep as she prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport on Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.AP
A car returns to the capital under the previous rain before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.AP
Strong winds move the palms of the palm trees at the first moment of the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.AP
A convoy from Xylem Tree Experts of Virginia, a company specializing in tree maintenance, travels in Palm Coast, Fla., as Hurricane Dorian approaches, on Aug. 31, 2019.Creative Content
Lyle Fidgeon boards windows at the Ocean Grill in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Vero Beach, Fla.AP
A shopper picks through canned meats at Publix grocery store ahead of Hurricane Dorian on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Pembroke Pines, Fla.AP
A shopper stands with a dolly of plywood at The Home Depot ahead of Hurricane Dorian on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Pembroke Pines, Fla.AP
People walk past a shuttered Chanel store with sandbags in the front doorway in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, along Worth Ave. in Palm Beach, Fla.AP
Workers cover stained glass windows with plywood sections at the Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Aug. 30, 2019, in Flagler Beach, Fla.AP
A boy plays on the beach as a No Swimming flag flies, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Lake Worth, Fla.AP
People shop for supplies before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, in Freeport, Bahamas, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.AP
Residents of Flagler Beach, Fla., fill sandbags Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, to help protect their homes in preparation for Hurricane Dorian Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.AP
Matt Rohrer loads sandbags in the back of his vehicle for his home in preparation for Hurricane Dorian Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Flagler Beach, Fla.AP
Shoppers wait in long lines at Costco, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Davie, Fla., as they stock up on supplies ahead of Hurricane Dorian.AP
People evacuated from a nearby Cay due to the danger of floods arrive on a ship at the port before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Sweeting's Cay, Bahamas, Aug. 31, 2019.AP
Men protect with wooden boards a shop window from the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Bahamas, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.AP
People line up to buy water at a store before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Bahamas, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.AP
Empty shelves where water is sold at a grocery store are shown, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in North Miami, Fla.AP
A cake for Hurricane Dorian is shown at a grocery store, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Dania Beach, Fla.AP
Isaiah Elie, 11, helps tie sandbags as his family fills them in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Hallandale Beach, Fla.AP
Empty shelves where water is sold at a grocery store are shown, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in North Miami, Fla.AP
Georgia Bernard, right, and Ana Perez are among residents filling sandbags to take home in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Hallandale Beach, Fla.AP
Residents fill up sandbags with the last bits of sand available in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Hallandale Beach, Fla.AP


World Central Kitchen was formed in 2010 after the earthquake in Haiti, but it was during Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico that they honed their disaster response blueprint. The organization served nearly 4 million meals over several months in the aftermath of the storm.

"We really work with the resources that are on the ground, because it's the fastest way. Rather than trying to bring in a bunch of food from the outside, we tap into what's already there in a place," Mook explained, "so we're buying food from Nassau, for example, in the Bahamas."

World Central Kitchen has already served thousands of meals in the Bahamas, including ham and cheese sandwiches and tuna dishes, according to one volunteer. More help is on the way on chartered boats and helicopters loaded with supplies.

Overall, the team is prepared to serve tens of thousands of meals in the storm's wake.

SEE ALSO: Celebrity chef Jose Andres opens pop-up kitchen to feed furloughed government employees in Washington
Celebrity chef Jose Andres opens pop-up kitchen to feed furloughed government employees
Report a correction or typo
Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.