Nassau, Bahamas (CNN) -- The Bahamas worked to return to normal Thursday evening after the worst of Hurricane Irene hammered the Caribbean island chain.
By 4:45 p.m., the U.S. National Hurricane Center noted, the Bahamian government had discontinued the hurricane warning that had been in effect for the central part of the island nation.
But notably, a short time later, Bahamas' National Emergency Management Agency "strongly" urged those on the island of New Providence -- home to the national capital, Nassau -- to stay off the streets until authorities give an "all clear."
The storm wreaked significant havoc on the Bahamas, though there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, according to Bahamian government agencies. Previously, officials blamed Irene for two deaths in the Dominican Republic and one in Puerto Rico.
Irene began bearing down on the Bahamas on Wednesday night, bringing 115 mph winds that ripped through trees and power lines and whipped up waters offshore.
"Last night, it felt like there were several jet airplanes landing on the house," said Ric von Maur, an American who has lived in Nassau for the past six years. "But once daylight came, we knew things were going to be OK."
While early reports Thursday indicated few major problems in the main tourist hubs, authorities were still trying to gauge the severity of damage across all the Bahamas' 700 islands, which the nation's tourism website notes are spread over 100,000 square miles of ocean.
By 4:45 p.m., the U.S. National Hurricane Center noted, the Bahamian government had discontinued the hurricane warning that had been in effect for the central part of the island nation.
But notably, a short time later, Bahamas' National Emergency Management Agency "strongly" urged those on the island of New Providence -- home to the national capital, Nassau -- to stay off the streets until authorities give an "all clear."
The storm wreaked significant havoc on the Bahamas, though there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, according to Bahamian government agencies. Previously, officials blamed Irene for two deaths in the Dominican Republic and one in Puerto Rico.
Irene began bearing down on the Bahamas on Wednesday night, bringing 115 mph winds that ripped through trees and power lines and whipped up waters offshore.
"Last night, it felt like there were several jet airplanes landing on the house," said Ric von Maur, an American who has lived in Nassau for the past six years. "But once daylight came, we knew things were going to be OK."
While early reports Thursday indicated few major problems in the main tourist hubs, authorities were still trying to gauge the severity of damage across all the Bahamas' 700 islands, which the nation's tourism website notes are spread over 100,000 square miles of ocean.
