DUers have you seen this - some islands in BVI - 'Nuclear bomb devastation'

[malaise]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41185042
<snip>

Montserrat was "swiped" by the hurricane on Wednesday, Sir Alan said, but fortunately the damage is not as severe as first thought.
Anguilla received "the full blast" of the category five hurricane and has suffered severe damage, "in some respects critical". At least one death has been reported there, a local official confirmed.
The British Virgin Islands were also not spared the full force, Sir Alan said, suffering "severe damage" and likely to need "extensive" humanitarian assistance.

The small Commonwealth Realm of Barbuda is said to be "barely habitable", while officials warn that the French territory of St Martin is almost destroyed.

[Lars39]

1. Heartsick :-(

[bullwinkle428]

2. PLEASE take this seriously if you're anywhere NEAR the path of this monster.

[phylny]

3. We like to go to the Caribbean every year.

I literally choose to go to a new island instead of going to Florida (sorry, Floridians) because of their governor. It makes me sick to read about such devastation.

I had asked you this on another thread, but I wonder - what can people possibly do to stay safe when on an island, other than go inland? Could any shelter possibly withstand such force?

[malaise]

4. People go to shelters but let's be clear

Few shelters can survive a hurricane of this strength. The other reality is that some of these islands are flat. Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas are in for several very rough hours.

[HipChick]

7. Many of the houses are built on stilts..due to uneven ground..

[kimbutgar]

5. St Martin was beautiful sorry to hear this

[HipChick]

6. Montserrat has been toast for while...after the last volcano eruption...

...only a handful of folks still lived there..

[malaise]

8. I could not believe it when I went there

ash everywhere - lovely island

[HipChick]

9. yes...gorgeous island...unfortuately...no one is going back there to rebuild..

Even when I was in St.Lucia, 2 years later after hurricane damage, the Chinese were there helping them to rebuild...

[hunter]

12. I know Montserrat from Reading Rainbow...

I used to watch it with my kids when they were small.

LeVar is listening to the beautiful traditional calypso music played by a steel drum band. They make their own instruments. LeVar hates to say goodbye to the little island of Montserrat because he gets to go home the next day. He plans to end his trip by walking on the beach and listening to the band playing their music. They have a surprise for him. They play the Reading Rainbow theme Caribbean style. He thinks that that's the perfect to say goodbye to the island of Montserrat. They continue playing their music during the closing credits.

http://reading-rainbow.wikia.com/wiki/My_Little_Island

[LeftInTX]

20. Same here...

[Deb]

10. We have a cruise planned to the islands

I've called the cruise line to inquire if we would be able to volunteer assist if the cruise goes as planned. Not sure I can go if we aren't able to help in some way.

[Solly Mack]

11. I'm heartsick and what makes it even worse is that America does not have

someone at the helm who would know the right things to say and the right things to do to help others.

Trump has not even a touch of humanity in him and world leaders need to be able to come forth and help not only their own citizens but the people of the world during times like this.

All of this destruction, the floods, the fires, the hurricanes - and we don't have anyone decent at the helm.

People will give of themselves and don't need the government telling them to do so - that's not the point.

We still need a president that encourages the best of its citizens and knows how to give sympathy and a hug because they actually feel it and don't need others coaching them in how to fake it for a do-over.

We still need a president that knows how to reach out in kindness and concern if only to say we care, as a nation.

[suffragette]

21. Spot on, solly

[woodsprite]

13. So sad. We just found out our friend

who lives in St Martin made it to family in Savannah, GA - just in time for Irma to hit there. We were worried about her and couldn't reach her. Finally made contact last night. I think their plan now is to head inland to Atlanta.

[malaise]

14. Give thanks

[GoCubsGo]

23. They might want to head up into South Carolina, instead.

Maybe toward Columbia, or even up to Charlotte. The models are all looking like the storm will continue to veer west, and head up somewhere in the western half of the state, and then arc toward Atlanta. They might might actually be better off staying put in Savannah, if things go the way it looks like they will.

[Mendocino]

15. Some friends of mine live in the

Virgin Islands on St. Johns. They haven't heard a word.

[malaise]

17. All the Virgin islands were devastated

Some were obliterated - I heard Tortola was very bad as well as several private islands

[Mendocino]

18. My friends

got a message late this morning that they are OK. The house is wrecked and his sailboat has sunk.

[malaise]

19. He can rebuild - life is what matters

[Mendocino]

24. Keep on keeping on

[mcar]

16. Just awful

I cannot even imagine this.

[Saboburns]

22. BVI, Barbuda, are in the cone of Hurricane Jose

They are looking down the barrel of another Cat 4 Hurricane.

Which will be hutting them, again, Sat night/Sunnmorning.

Just unthinkable, being hut by 2 massive hurricanes in one week.