Post Irma Virgin Islands

We arrived in the Virgin Islands 7 weeks after Hurricane Irma and 6 weeks after Hurricane Maria hit the Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands took the eye of Irma with 185 mph sustained winds and gusts of 220 to 240 mph, and a surge of around 13’! Maria was not insignificant as people whose boats were blown ashore with Irma were literally blown back into the water by Maria. The boat yards were devastated! The hurricane chain in the Paraquita Bay failed and virtually all the boats, several hundred, were destroyed or heavily damaged. Although we didn’t see it, we were told the hurricane chain in St John also failed and most of the boats sheltering in Hurricane Hole were destroyed. An amateur weatherman there recorded long wind gusts of 275 mph.

The Steele point at Sopers hole the
houses faired pretty well

The ferry house and customs is gone
Customs is now the open tent

 The predominate damage to houses were the loss of roofs, although many houses were completely blown out or down. Sopers Hole was hard hit.

Pussars is gone

The Voyager yard is up and running

Customs is operating out of an open sided tent, Pussars is gone as are many other buildings on that side. They were clearing a pile of wreckage that were one time boats.

The middle is wreckage that was once
boats being removed by a backhoe

The Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour
is devastated

Throughout the islands the people were upbeat, friendly, helpful and anxious to run their business and take care of visitors. A picture is worth a thousand words so here are the islands.

Fichers is heavily damaged

All the boats in the yard were over

The islands are not destroyed, but are ready to take in visitors, renew their businesses, and start making some money to continue the repairs. Remember, the islands are green, the sky clear and blue, and the water is clear and warm. They are rebuilding quickly and as I write this I am sure many more businesses are open.

The Rock Café lost its roof

The Rock Church was heavily
damaged, but we had service Sunday

Marina Cay was badly damaged,
Pussars is gone, but they are starting
to rebuild and will be open 1 Dec

In Cane Garden Bay Quito's continues
to build the new hotel and also repair
the beach bar

All the beach at Cane Garden is damaged

Myett's was closed, but will open soon.
The store in the back was open and
undamaged, even the glass windows

Rhymers is already rebuilding and
is open. We had drinks and food, and
they said rooms were ready to rent

Rhymers is already building a new
bigger porch and deck

At Jost Van Dyke Foxys is up and
running, even the shirt shop is open

Foxys was heavily damaged

Foxys is putting all back together

Corsairs is gutted

The Church at Great Harbour is
gutted, but they are working on it
already

No one was exempt from Irma's fury

At White Bay Ivans is destroyed

Hendo's survived and the Soggy Dollar
rebuild is well underway

Gertrudes was wiped out, but people
have already rebuilt her house and
the beach Bar is next. Gertrude was
one of the only people on Jost Van Dyke
seriously hurt and was evacuated

One Love had drinks and is rebuilding

Residents are living in tents

We had drinks at Foxy's and
Al Baba's who is working hard
to rebuild

Foxy had his costume Halloween
Party. He even provided costumes!

The party was small but went on a while

Leslie was in the middle of it

Entering the US we were greeted by
a pod of porpoises!

In St Thomas Enki was wiped out
and Culebra I was sunk

A big crane was there to lift a dry dock
from the Crown Bay Cruise Ship dock.
FEMA and others were housed in this
cruise ship at Crown Bay

Vendors park is running, but is waiting
for visitors

Fresh Bistro is up and running

Havensight is open for business

The public housing survived well even
the solar hot water heaters made it!

Roofs were a major causality so the
blue roofs appear everywhere

Utility workers were everywhere getting
power restored

Redhook didn't escape damge

I was shocked the newly planted trees
made it!

Water Island Honeymoon beach got
hit hard

Heidi's is up and running. She still
serves great burgers!

The Virgin Islands await you. The air and water are clear and warm and the beer cold!