"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Connie Haines Barry lives in an island-inspired haven in Spooner, Wisconsin, a town in the United States with a population of about 2,600 people. A pineapple-themed welcome sign hangs above …
Continue reading “Where are they now? Irma survivors abroad share their journeys”
Dr. Virginia Rubaine had plans to travel on Sept. 7, 2017. But on Sept. 6, Hurricane Irma swept through the Virgin Islands, devastating homes, businesses and livelihoods, and dashing any …
Two years after Hurricane Irma, a walk through Road Town suggests that the biggest victory of the private sector also remains its greatest challenge: rebuilding. “Many of the businesses are …
Continue reading “Businesses take a lead in Hurricane Irma recovery”
For about 10 months before Hurricane Dorian brushed the Virgin Islands last week, Wendy Hendricks would wake up each morning in the tattered tent in which she was living near …
Continue reading “Two years after Irma, many still struggling”
In the weeks after Hurricane Irma, the recovery effort roared to life. With the help of funding and personnel from the United Kingdom and other partners, the Virgin Islands government …
Over the past five weeks, Recovery and Development Agency CEO Paul Bayly scheduled and cancelled three interviews with the Beacon before ultimately declining to speak at the reported request of …
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. Though Irma’s destruction is still visible throughout Road Town, the capital’s new culinary choices don’t reflect the spartan lifestyle often …
Continue reading “Rooftop tapas, homegrown vegetables and brunch”
This article appeared in the Beacon’s “Irma Anniversary” special edition on Sept. 6. Sharleen DaBreo, the director of the Department of Disaster Management, is trained to think about all the …
Continue reading “In looking back at Irma, hindsight is 20/20”
Before volunteers started reconstructing Wonder Years Daycare & Preschool, there was essentially no upper floor left at all. “The roof was completely gone,” project manager Mitch Lederman said while giving …
Continue reading “‘Doing a little bit towards something big’”
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. The team of people who once served as Virgin Gorda’s de facto government now have their headquarters in …
Continue reading “One year after Irma, Virgin Gorda fights to recover”
In White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, the boats are back. Seddy’s One Love, Gertrude’s Beach Bar, Coco Locos and Soggy Dollar regularly teem with charter guests sucking down painkillers and …
Continue reading “Boats back on Jost van Dyke, though challenges remain”
Road Town was devastated by Hurricane Irma, but the capital is building back in leaps and bounds. Scroll down to compare scenes captured shortly after Hurricane Irma to the same …
Continue reading “Irma, Then and Now: Photos from around Road Town”
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. For the some 300 people living on Anegada, day-to-day life is punctuated by boat arrivals. Road Town-based passenger ferries pull …
Continue reading “Anegada “pushing for bigger and better things” after Irma”
Mr. Jaspert was sworn in as governor on Aug. 22, 2017, 15 days before Hurricane Irma decimated the territory. This is his account of the storm, condensed and edited by …
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. Like many people throughout the Virgin Islands, Courdney Williams has a very different daily routine than he did 12 months …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands economy takes new shapes after Irma”
Kennard Malley is still waiting to get his electricity restored. But before he does, he needs a roof. Mr. Malley, who works as a security guard at Nanny Cay, lived …
Much has changed since Hurricane Irma struck the Virgin Islands on Sept. 6, 2017. In some locations, the recovery effort has transformed the landscape. Other areas, however, don’t look much …
Continue reading “Irma, then and now: Photos from around Tortola”
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6, 2018 Irma Anniversary edition. It seems that everyone in the Virgin Islands knows at least one hero of Hurricane Irma. …
Continue reading “Irma Anniversary: Seven unsung heroes of the storm”
