Relief efforts have exploded since Hurricane Dorian decimated the Bahamas Labor Day weekend

Widespread humanitarian relief efforts have materialized in the days since Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc on the Bahamas.

Since Dorian made landfall as a devastating Category 5 storm, cruise ships have set out towards the islands with supplies, fundraising efforts have exploded, and one Florida man spent almost $50,000 at Costco on generators and food for victims.

Errol Thurston, a native Bahamian, said the man is his friend and wishes not to be identified. The generous man’s shelf-clearing donation was a catalyst for Thurston, who said he still has loved ones that remain unaccounted for after the storm.

In just five days, Thurston has raised more than $100,000 with a GoFundMe page dedicated to hurricane relief.

Thurston had left his home of Abaco just three days before the storm made landfall, he said, to travel to the Florida for business. When he tried to return home, he found his flight was cancelled due to storm warnings. He called it “blind luck.”

What’s left of his home? “There’s nothing.”

Authorities reported Hurricane Dorian killed at least 30 people in the Bahamas, but that number is expected to rise.

Operating on survival mode, Thurston said, he has been working with the anonymous donor and a quickly compiled network of South Florida captains to ship the donated supplies to the Bahamas.

Post by alec.sprague.9.

So far, Thurston said, they have transported around 20 of the generators, but the group is focusing on food, water, and evacuating vulnerable people.

“My island is devastated,” Thurston said. “At the end of the day, we have to help people rebuild a community and that's where the money is going to come in. Because there is nothing left.”

More: Hurricane Dorian is the strongest hurricane on record to hit the island of Abaco

Post by errol.thurston.

On the nearby island of New Providence, college students displaced by the storm wreckage will not have to put their education on hold, thanks to an agreement between the University of the Bahamas and Hampton University.

The historically black university in Virginia is opening its doors to students from University of the Bahamas for one semester at no cost.

They won’t have to pay tuition or room and board for the fall 2019 semester, and will have the option to remain enrolled at Hampton for regular rates after the semester is over.

“I think this agreement is something that can be helpful to a great number of students and families, and is part of something I’ve tried to do my entire career – helping people to achieve and meet their goals,” University president William R. Harvey said in a statement Thursday.

After Hurricane Dorian had battered the islands with catastrophic wind and rain for two days, Harvey worked with Rodney Smith, president of the University of the Bahamas and former administrator of Hampton University, to come to this agreement.

“Hampton has been the educational choice for many Bahamians over its long history. I am grateful to President Harvey and university leadership on this demonstration of kindness and humanity to my home in our time of need,” said Lawrence Rigby, a former Hampton student who is from Nassau. “Young Bahamians from Abaco and Grand Bahama who are looking for the tools to rebuild their lives and our home will find them at Hampton.”

More: Here's how you can help areas impacted by the storm

Nassau-native and Phoenix Suns’ power forward Deandre Ayton said in a tweet that “it’s been a rough few days,” but that all his friends and family are safe.

Ayton said he and his family will give $100,000 to various relief efforts, and he will work with the Suns and the NBA to provide long term support.

Ayton is one of many professional athletes and celebrities giving to relief efforts.

American rapper Ludacris pledged to donate all the proceeds of his annual "LudaDay" event. He said on Instagram that he raised over $100,000.

Spanish chef José Andrés is in Abaco with World Central Kitchen, where he plans to serve 10,000 meals. Andrés supported communities in crisis after Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Florence, and California wildfires.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Relief efforts have exploded since Hurricane Dorian devastated Bahamas