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VI braces for monstrous Category 5 Hurricane Irma

- Even the dolphins from Dolphin Discovery have been relocated
A home in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, boarded up today, September 5, 2017. Photo: Team of Reporters
The Cutlass Tower in Road Town getting hurricane prepared. Photo: Team of Reporters
The Cutlass Tower in Road Town getting hurricane prepared. Photo: Team of Reporters
Palm Grove Shopping Centre on Waterfront Drive, Tortola. Photo: Team of Reporters
Palm Grove Shopping Centre on Waterfront Drive, Tortola. Photo: Team of Reporters
The area at Dolphin Discovery where the dolphins are usually kept, but have since been relocated to a nearby pool. Photo: Team of Reporters
The area at Dolphin Discovery where the dolphins are usually kept, but have since been relocated to a nearby pool. Photo: Team of Reporters
The Digicel flagship store on Waterfront Drive has taken the necessary measures. Photo: Team of Reporters
The Digicel flagship store on Waterfront Drive has taken the necessary measures. Photo: Team of Reporters
A home and place of business in Carrot Bay, Tortola earlier today, September 5, 2017. Photo: Team of Reporters
A home and place of business in Carrot Bay, Tortola earlier today, September 5, 2017. Photo: Team of Reporters
A place of residence in Carrot Bay, Tortola today, September 5, 2017. Photo: Team of Reporters
A place of residence in Carrot Bay, Tortola today, September 5, 2017. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands people have done as much as they can. A majority of residents and visitors have taken the warning seriously about a deadly and powerful hurricane called Irma, which has reached category 5 with winds of over 180 miles per hour.

Persons have boarded up homes, churches and businesses, clean up their yards and flooded the grocery stores for canned food and water.

The latest forecast from the United States, Antigua and the United Kingdom all confirmed that Hurricane Irma is one of the most powerful natural phenomena yet as it is now on a steady path to hit the Virgin Islands and could devastate the tiny British Overseas Territory, leaving death, homelessness, and destruction in its path.

The Virgin Islands (VI) Leaders, Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) and the newly appointed British Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka 'Gus', have given all the necessary warnings and information.

In addition, because of the seriousness of this powerful hurricane, one of the sister islands, Anegada, has been evacuated, notwithstanding a handful of residents have refused to leave.

Safety for the Dolphins

Meanwhile, Dolphin Discovery has removed its 15 dolphins from the sea pen at the end of Prospect Reef and relocated them into the pool on the same compound.

This is to secure the animals from the pending powerful weather and ground seas that are expected.

The management at the facility declined to comment and did not allow us to take photos of the pool where the dolphins are, but we understand this is a routine procedure for the safety of the dolphins.

Also, the business district in the capital Road Town and on all sister islands are shut down and many stores are getting ready to close to allow employees to get home before conditions worsen.

Airports, seaports, all government operations (outside of essential services) are all shut down and will remain so on Wednesday September 6, 2017 and up to Thursday of this week. Many churches have called for prayer and politicians are checking their districts to see if residents have taken necessary precautions.

It remains unclear, with the pending disaster of a category 5 hurricane, if the Governor will call a State of Emergency, as another storm is forming right behind Hurricane Irma, named Jose.

14 Responses to “VI braces for monstrous Category 5 Hurricane Irma”

  • Just saying (05/09/2017, 18:50) Like (4) Dislike (14) Reply
    Not sure prayer can help us now!
  • Captain Hook (05/09/2017, 20:06) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Now ayo cleaning up de place???! EH?.....Strups.....it had to take a REAL shaking from the last flood to WAKE some of us out of our nasty littering habits but thank goodness it happen and many of us are now prepared.
  • Timo (05/09/2017, 20:18) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Be safe everyone in the BVI... Praying for you all.
  • Praying (05/09/2017, 20:52) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    For you I am praying.
    • big man (05/09/2017, 21:18) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Preparedness what about pussell drainage big irons and debrew still there clogging politicians checking their area do u say all they care about is there businesses not their district
  • concern (05/09/2017, 21:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bee very carefull out tbere
  • cay (05/09/2017, 21:28) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    Jesus coming from his world
  • be safe (05/09/2017, 22:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    One thing I cannot understand. Can someone please tell me why would anyone be sooooo inconsiderate to park a number of huge speed boats directly in front of the West End Emergency Shelters. How do they expect emergency vehicles to maneuver when toting people to the shelter in the middle of the night with high winds and rain. How inconsiderate can we get? Can someone please look into this, the district rep perhaps.
  • Mainland (06/09/2017, 00:08) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Prayers going up for all! Faith and much prayer...God has the power to grant grace and mercy to calm the storm.. I believe do you?
  • a friend (06/09/2017, 10:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    My family extends our thoughts...prayers and support to everyone during and after this disaster hits.
  • Matias (06/09/2017, 19:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am from argentina, and knew Tortola & Anegada last year, and was my first thinking about IRMA, praying for you people
  • Jen (07/09/2017, 01:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Trying to find out if a friends family is safe. They are I. The Shannon estate on Tortola. She is not there, and wondering if anyone can check. His name
    Is Andrew Jowett. He has two kids with him.
    Can anyone share information on this website?
  • shortstuff (08/09/2017, 15:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tortola worked together to recover after Hugo. Neighbors helping neighbors by getting pieces of roofing out of bush and nailing back in place so we had shelter, cable guys helping BVI electric restore power, etc. etc. thinking of what others need. Neighbor helping neighbor. Let us think what we can do for all and we will find help for what our needs might be.
    It will be a tough time but we will discovers what we really need rather than what we want! We may be surprised who we meet along the way.


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