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Over 23 families in Huntums Ghut & Purcell devastated by floods

- BVI Red Cross steps up efforts to persons & families in need
BVI Red Cross volunteers conducting an assessment in the Road Town area. Photo: Provided
BVI Red Cross volunteers preparing packages to be distributed to persons and families that are in need following the devastating flash flood on Monday August 7, 2017. Photo: VINO
BVI Red Cross volunteers preparing packages to be distributed to persons and families that are in need following the devastating flash flood on Monday August 7, 2017. Photo: VINO
Geoffrey H. Brooks (red cap), Chairman of the Board of Directors for BVI Red Cross, assisting the volunteers with the package distribution. Photo: VINO
Geoffrey H. Brooks (red cap), Chairman of the Board of Directors for BVI Red Cross, assisting the volunteers with the package distribution. Photo: VINO
BVI Red Cross volunteers conducting an assessment in the Road Town area. Photo: Provided
BVI Red Cross volunteers conducting an assessment in the Road Town area. Photo: Provided
Volunteers from BVI Red Cross assisting with the cleaning-up of areas in Road Town. Photo: Provided
Volunteers from BVI Red Cross assisting with the cleaning-up of areas in Road Town. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Some 23 families within the areas of Purcell Estate and Huntums Ghut were badly affected by the August 7, 2017 flash floods and are in dire need of assistance.

This is according to Geoffrey H. Brooks, Chairman of the Board of Directors for BVI Red Cross, who expressed great concerns about persons and families that are in the hills that may be trapped and some who are just being discovered.

In an interview with Geoffrey H. Brooks, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Red Cross, he stated that on Thursday August 10, 2017 they conducted assessments along with the Department of Disaster Management in Purcell Estate and Huntums Ghut in an effort to identify persons and families that were most affected by the flooding.

Red Cross kicked off their cleaning-up efforts Wednesday August 9, 2017, within areas of Road Town and following that they started to prepare packages to be distributed to persons and families that were badly affected by the flood.

The Rotary Club in collaboration with Red Cross, Family Support Network (FSN), Government of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) came together to start a massive clean-up, restoration and outreach programmes.

It’s a miracle that nobody got killed

Mr Brooks told reporters that persons have been bringing clothes, food and any other items to Red Cross all day yesterday August 12, 2017. As a result, the volunteers have been creating packages to be distributed to those in need. In addition, the food items that Rotary is collecting, they are distributing it between the Family Support Network and Red Cross.

 “These guys, they don’t quit. They spent the whole morning digging up mud and now they are sorting and putting clothes in different sizes, children clothes stuff in one place and others in another,” adding that most of the food items have been going to the Family Support Network.

He further stated that it is “really great” to see all the service groups working together as one following this devastating flood.

“You have Rotary, Lions Club, Red Cross, and the Family Support Network, a whole coalition of serve groups working together.”

The Chairman of the Board of Directors for Red Cross took the view that it was a “miracle” that nobody got killed nor were there any fatalities during the floods.

“God has really blessed us but we are continuing all the work with all the different groups together as one and things are going great and I’m just amazed at the resilience of the community. You know something like this happens and the people don’t start blaming each other, they just go out and do the work,” said Geoffrey Brooks.

24 Responses to “Over 23 families in Huntums Ghut & Purcell devastated by floods”

  • Freedom! (13/08/2017, 13:22) Like (33) Dislike (25) Reply
    Again we needed that damm ship
    • NoShip (15/08/2017, 12:01) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
      We don't need no damn ship people throwing nothing in our faces later on. Enough people benefitting from this island who can assist. Now get to work, all who love the Virgin Islands as their home.
  • Harold (13/08/2017, 14:03) Like (15) Dislike (7) Reply
    And no Navy ship allowed to come here and help those persons. SMH
  • Unbelievable (13/08/2017, 14:56) Like (30) Dislike (24) Reply
    No ship should come here to clean up our mess. Are we incompetent, or just d&mn lazy?

    For a start, let the store owners clean up in front of their doors. Let able bodied people clean their own yards and houses.

    Only thing the red cross should be doing is coordinating.
    • Online Now (13/08/2017, 16:50) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
      Can I borrow your heavy equipment to move the rocks?
    • nonsense (13/08/2017, 19:59) Like (18) Dislike (6) Reply
      No one is saying that the navy will do all the work themselves. But have you taken a drive around this island? There are a lot of work that needs to be done. Accepting help from the navy would have decreased the amount of money that we now have to dish out. In addition to that, we also have another tropical wave that may be here by the week coming? Do you think we can handle another rainfall as we just got? Stupes. Assistance from the British Navy is all a part of being a BOT.
    • Jay (14/08/2017, 06:25) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      Dont be silly. The ship's helicopter could have been used to search for anyone that may have been trapped.
      • AwayShip! (15/08/2017, 12:04) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
        Don't be silly, the helicopter might have fallen in one of the ghuts. Let the British go to UK to find the people who are taking over their country. We are fine without them.
  • pat (13/08/2017, 15:25) Like (21) Dislike (10) Reply
    this government is crazy not to accept help
  • Exactly (13/08/2017, 15:30) Like (30) Dislike (6) Reply
    That was not a good move. They were willing to help and pride over aide was chosen. SMH
  • wize up (13/08/2017, 15:58) Like (16) Dislike (8) Reply
    this territory and its people have gone devastation in the past and got through by banding together and no ship came to help: more than likely assistance from the ship would have very beneficial but the Virgin Islands have always been very resilient people and continue to give God his Glory
  • @Unbelievable (13/08/2017, 18:13) Like (32) Dislike (12) Reply
    You are so dam stupid. Your premier is so pathetic that he is ignorant and lie so much that he probably believe the pathetic words that comes out of his own mouth.

    Màny people are so stressed out from a long night of trying to stay alive. God knows who probably lost sleep keeping an eye on small children and running around trying to salvage as much as they could while water was tearing up their home. So many people are probably broken now. I know from first hand experience just being all alone, with no one to help and young children and just sit and look around and let the tears fall. Just to turn around and let the old stuff, mattress etc., dry out to use again.

    If for some reason God has put that ship in port for a time like this, why refuse them and turn them away. God comes to our rescue in many ways and form but we are to blind to see or acknowledge
    • Unbelievable (13/08/2017, 20:43) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
      You could have made your point without calling me stupid.

      I assure you, I am not.

      I understand your grief, but our problem here is that we are lazy, nasty and disorganized. And the world will see us that way if we don't get our sh!+ together and do for ourselves!
    • voiceofthevoiceless (14/08/2017, 07:50) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      The Premier said 30,000 could do more than 400. Does that not mean that 30,400 can do more than 30,000? Especially when the 400 are experts at dealing with disasters like this and have equipment like a helicopter to get to places where our 4wd cannot get? Getting out and shoveling dirt is one thing but dealing with sewerage is another. Add to that we talking about free help, are you serious?

      Very disappointed in the Premier. Take every bit of help you can get. I hear some people talking about colonial nonsense but we must bury our pride in times like these.

      Kudos to the Red Cross.
  • Fed Up (13/08/2017, 21:15) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    I cant take anymore..... I spoke to the government about that covered ghut in Humtunms Ghut for years to no avail.... They don't care because it is not affecting them, their friends or family. The government is destroying my life and don't care. When it is all said and done they give me a cheque for $5000 and think they did something. What comes around goes around.

  • bam (13/08/2017, 21:33) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    so y Delores help in the people who already have it with house supplies make them go bank and draw off the money and u average i need a vehicle rent for a two months also
  • Put a Sock in It (13/08/2017, 21:36) Like (5) Dislike (13) Reply
    Desperate for attention much???

    The Navy couldn't have done anything we as a people coming together haven't already done!

  • POPE (14/08/2017, 00:38) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    These people are sick not to accept the help very sick
  • Sawda (14/08/2017, 09:08) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    We need the damn ship and helicopters,the Premier Brains got wash away in the Floods,he is Doating asual..I guess the Economy Still Good..It's time for New Leadership..Where is the BVi Airways help we just help them with 7 mil now we need 70 mil..They are now laughing at the Premier not the Country..
  • pride (14/08/2017, 10:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pride & Denial gonna kill us in this country!!
  • The watchman (14/08/2017, 10:56) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Has anyone making noise stop to think that the UK would send the bill afterwards? There are a few things that they are doing already, that are mandatory by the UN that our tax money still pays for in the background. Please understand the colonial system first before speaking. Rosey and shiny on the surface, but nasty and condescending in the background and below.
    • Overcoming! (15/08/2017, 12:13) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Watchman, you understand the times and seasons of the UN and UK. When we ask them for help, this will give them more reason to think that we cannot do without them because we got a little water and they had to run to save us. Understand the history of the British. What would they want in exchange? The BVI was not built in one month. Our forefathers toiled, worked hard, invested, got education to assist us to where we are today. Let us join as a people and show our resilience. We can clean up the BVI ourselves and make it great again. Virgin Islanders do not like people throwing things in our faces. We are prideful, and will not stand idle for the British to throw anything in our faces. We suck Salt Island salt first before we beg them. We are just asking for more wisdom from God, that's all. We shall OVERCOME


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