The Queen Has Expressed Her Shock and Sadness At The Devastation Caused By Hurricane Irma, and sent the following message to Governor General Sir Rodney Williams:
“Prince Philip and I have been shocked and saddened by the reports of the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed or adversely affected by this terrible storm. Please convey my gratitude and good wishes to members of the emergency services and to those who are working on the rescue effort at this very difficult time for you all.”
Britain has sent a huge taskforce of 700 Royal Marines, Soldiers and Medics to provide immediate assistance for the victims of Hurricane Irma on the British Virgin Islands, with 1200 troops to be brought in by the weekend. Group Captain Tom Jones said that support will be there “for as long as it’s needed.” The Government has also now increased the aid package to the region to £57 million.
55 police officers have been sent to support local forces there, and also RFA Mounts Bay was sent to Anguila to provide assistance, including ensuring the hospital was able to operate, and then on to the British Virgin Islands.
British Charity Team Rubicon UK also sent more than 20 former Royal Engineers and specialists to the British Virgin Islands to provide humanitarian aid and infrastructure help where 160 mph winds destroyed 95 per cent of homes and other buildings and displaced upwards of a million people.
People were reportedly sitting in their homes, and watching the roofs literally being ripped off from over their heads.
The devastation is unimaginable,
but the stories of resilience, and kindness following the storm, are truly inspiring,
with one lady who had lost everything saying “The Caribbean Spirit Prevails, We Are Simply Grateful To Be Alive.”
People seemed very relieved to see help arriving.
160 tons of humanitarian aid, including water purification systems, communications equipment to rebuild broken networks, solar lanterns with integrated phone chargers, buckets for water, medical supplies, food, bottled water, generators, lithium batteries, sanitation, clothing, shelter and bedding have been delivered. A road clearing team with chainsaws has also now joined the convoy.
In spite of the devastation many people reported that the strength of the community became apparent immediately afterwards, helping each other in the aftermath of the storm,
offering food and water to each other,
and trekking out to find their neighbours, even though their own houses had just been blown down.
After almost totally destroying Anguila, Barbuda,
the British Virgin Islands, and the American Virgin Islands, Hurricane Irma continued in it’s destructive path across the Caribbean towards the Bahamas and Cuba,
where it made landfall on Friday night as a Category 5 hurricane.
It weakened to a Category 3 on Saturday with 125 mph winds, and then strengthened again to a Category 4, where it crashed into the Florida quays on Sunday morning, moving up the West Coast.
By Sunday afternoon, Irma weakened again to a Category 2, passing over Naples, Fort Myers, Tampa, Cedar Key and Tallahassee.
The storm continues onwards across the state, and is expected to bring destructive storm surges of up to 15 feet. Four people have died in Florida, and there are 6 million people without power.
President Trump said today during a solemn commemoration for 9/11, “These are storms of catastrophic severity and we are marshalling the full resources of the federal government to help our fellow Americans in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and all of those wonderful states and places in harm’s way.” Whilst honouring the 9/11 victims, survivors and first responders, President Trump also sent his thoughts and prayers to those in the path of Hurricane Irma and those recovering from Hurricane Harvey.
Florida Governor Rick Scott said “Do not think the storm is over when the wind slows down” (because it is then that the storm surges will start.)
The residents of Florida were given much advance warning about Hurricane Irma, from President Trump, the Florida Governor Mr Scott, and local Government Officials. They were advised in no uncertain terms to “move out of the path of the storm” and evacuate. Let’s hope they are able to return home as soon as possible.
Hundreds of refuge centres were set up, many allowing pets,
so that everyone had somewhere safe to stay.
Alternative refuge areas were set up for some lucky flamingo’s in the local zoo!
Some people chose to leave the state altogether, and even flew elsewhere, but some people still chose to stay at home, but would have done so ultimately after having made their own extremely ‘ well informed’ decision.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those people, and the people who have lost loved ones, the people of the Caribbean and Florida who have been displaced, and all of those who are still in the path of the treacherous Hurricane Irma. We are all with you.
An enormous recovery mission is also now under way in Florida – Stay tuned..!
Words by Amanda Waters
© Amanda Waters