Hurricane Irma is 'one for the record books' - Roberto B. Smith
- said he hopes this traumatic event will humble the people of this territory
Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc in the Virgin Islands on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO
The top flat of this concrete building on Tortola came crashing down during Hurricane Irma. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Following the devastation of Category 5 Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017, many persons were left homeless and had to seek refuge in one of the designated shelters. Many persons have also been sharing their experience during the monster hurricane.
In an exclusive interview with Roberto B. Smith, a resident of East End, he stated that this experience will be "one for the record books", adding that his has never been seen before and he hopes this will humble a lot of people in the Virgin Islands (VI).
He said, "Right now everybody in the territory is on the same playing field and nobody is better than nobody. We just need to come together and rebuild this fantastic territory we call home."
Giving an account of his experience, Mr Smith explained that during the hurricane, water started to come from under the front door and while he was trying to bail out the water things got more intense.
"The front door was already weakened. All of a sudden, I heard a loud crash and the next thing I knew the front door of my apartment flew off. The next second, I saw my mattress flying towards the door and landed in place of my front door," adding that he breathe a sigh of some relief.
Rescuing a neighbour
Mr Smith stated that while he was continuing to bail out the water, he heard a knock on his window and he saw his neighbour and his family outside and quickly he knew they were seeking shelter.
"I hurridly try to move the mattress aside to let them in and all of a sudden the windows blew out and debris started comig in as if it was like a sci-fi movie. I quickly took the wife and children into the bathroom for protection."
The East End resident commented that at that moment he was just thinking about protecting his neighbour and his family because he could see the fear on their faces, noting that he had to be calm in order to think quickly because one mistake could end up in a tragedy.
Mr Smith told our news reporter that as Hurricane Irma worsened water was coming from everywhere and debris continued to fly throughout the house and he and his neighbour could do nothing about it.
"We sat down by the bathroom entrance and I looked over at my friend and his face was swollen with tears in his eyes. I touched his shoulder and told him everything was going to be okay," said the East End resident.
He further said that he told his friend that once the eye of the hurricane came, they should make a run for it to the nearest shelter.
"We went to a nearby school and community center but they were badly damaged, so we went to Church of God of Prophecy and stayed there until Hurricane Irma was over."
Many other stories of the hurricane ordeal have been shared, including one of a family resorting to hiding in a bathtub with a mattress over it after losing the roof of their home. Some have expressed how worse it could have been had the hurricane struck at night.
For many it was a humbling experience as they said they could have only called on the Lord and he saved them.
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