piers, the u.s. coast guard said they rescued at least 135 people and a handful of pets. the death toll in the bahamas is 20 people. paula newton is in nassau, she spent the night in one of the hardest hit communities. here is paula moments ago for us. >> this storm defied description. they're telling us, as bad as those pictures are, they went through the equivalent of a 36 hour horror movie. they were dodging projectiles flying out of the sky from debris in people's homes, they were pulling mattresses off their beds to hold in doors and windows and garages that were coming over on top of them. they cannot even describe what they have been through. >> i'm from tampa. i want my family in the states to know we're okay. it's not justus -- everybody's hurting, we're not any worse than anybody else. everybody is hurting. and we thank god for life. we thank god for each other and for life. through it all, god is good. >> you were with your family when you went through the storm? >> yes. yes. >> you have two children. >> yes, we will be okay. >> do you have children here with you. >> my grandson. my husband. >> i think i met your dau