Editor's Note: Thanks to our extensive network of partners, the team at Waterway Guide will be running comprehensive coverage on how Hurricane Irma is affecting navigation, marinas and more. Keep up-to-date by monitoring our News section, as well as our Facebook and Twitter (@WaterwayGuide) accounts. NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – If you want to help the victims of Hurricane Irma, the time to start giving is right now, according to the two courageous women here who are simultaneously evacuating themselves, their neighbors and running the private relief organization known throughout the islands as HeadKnowles.

As Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded, made landfall Wednesday, with the eye passing over Barbuda, heading toward Puerto Rico and other islands, the women who began the private group on Facebook HeadKnowles, boater Gina Knowles and Lia Head-Rigby squarely in the crosshairs of the monster storm. Gina owns two large pontoon boats she uses to aid with evacuations. They are coordinating the fundraising and relief efforts even before the storm hits them.

HeadKnowles was born out of the wreckage of Hurricane Joaquin as a local relief effort serving families in the central and southern Bahamas in the aftermath of the devastating Category Four storm in October 2015.

Lia, Gina and their vast network were the catalyst behind Bahamians using social media and trending the hashtag #OneBahamas, according to The Bahamian Project.

This was the first time in recent years that a private group came to the aid of the public before the government. Corporate donors and ordinary Bahamians delivered truckloads and shipping containers of water, groceries, clothing and other essential items to assist impacted communities.

"In October 2016, Lia and Gina were back in action providing relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Many were still recovering from the ravages of Joaquin, just a year earlier. The Head-Knowles Foundation has received over $2.5 million in donations and gifts to assist in relief efforts for both hurricanes," according to The Bahamian Project.

Now, however, the dynamic duo faces their biggest challenge yet, running the relief effort preemptively, while evacuating themselves and others in the path of Irma, a Category 5 storm, packing winds of up to 185 miles per hour as it approached the Leeward Islands, sideswiping Antigua.

About 5 a.m., Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said the eye was moving away from Barbuda toward St. Martin. The storm is one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the center.

Below is an exclusive Q & A with Gina and Lia, via email, as they rushed to batten down and pack up ahead of Hurricane Irma.

Q: You said you're prepping for Irma, what does that entail from the HeadKnowles standpoint as helpers.

A: We are working hand in hand with the Office of the Prime Minister once again, to assist in the coordination of information from govt to all islands and residents. We have been in constant contact with PM and other Ministers today, to ensure credible info and not 'fake news' is disseminated.

We lobbied VERY HARD by engaging many press and social media followers to ask the new and very responsive govt to evacuate the southernmost islands that are in the direct path of Irma. A great coup for Family islanders on those islands. Briefings call for DESTRUCTIVE results ... so we have to evacuate and the govt heeded that call. Gratefully.

Q: Do you have any advice for those who will want to reach out and contribute in some way to those who are affected by Irma? A dos and don’ts. i.e. Do send money. Don't send clothes.

A: our partner is The Bahamas Red Cross for ALL non-monetary donations. HK has a YouCaring [crowdfunding] site....Irma at 180MPH is barreling down onto The Bahamas ... never before have we expected a storm of this magnitude to our shores. We will definitely see destruction as never before, unfortunately.

As we enter EVACUATION MODE of our southernmost islands, namely Inagua & Acklins, we need to prepare for assisting them to just LIVE.  Those who do not go to family, friends & volunteer housing - will be housed at government appointed/ran shelters. HK will help them!

So we are gearing up to be an 'Immediate Relief Source' which means we need CASH to do this.  We are directing all of our food, clothes & water donations to The Bahamas Red Cross and our HK Volunteers will work out of their warehouse, to make the Red Cross STRONGER than ever.

Please send cash donations to HeadKnowles via this site OR via our RBC account OR in Nassau, drop off to Island Cellular ...Thank you so much!!!!!!

Q: Both during and after a major storm people often want to help. Should people try and start their own organizations the way you did, or should they first look for those that already exist?

A: It depends on their resources; if they have their own and will not tap into the existing exhausted pool, then start their own.  Otherwise PLEASE join forces with other major players in the arena now --- like HK.