Help is now starting to arrive

RFA Mounts Bay is now in Tortola and helicopter has landed at Road Town. Planes have left U.K. with emergency aid, water, food, supplies and marines. No doubt we shall soon have better knowledge of what is happening and clearer communications which will help everyone: those struggling on the islands and those of us who are worrying for our BVI families and friends.

The private group raising funds for Virgin Gorda headed by Dive BVI mangers had a post on Facebook that they had loaded up supplies and headed to Puerto Rico and would be boating them to the island.

"GREAT NEWS!!! First private plane with aid has left USA, heading to PR and then boating over to VG.

More aid being organised and coming within the next day or two.

"
James Hagedorn
2 hrs ·
We're headed down to BVI now on a humanitarian mission. My CJ and our Global. Me, Rob H., Mike Hoover, Lenny Hall and Jeff McNutt. MREs, water, gensets, blue tarps, sat phones. Sounds super grim down there. House reported to be 30 to 40 % destroyed. Better than most! Beef Island Airport completely destroyed. Flying into PR and boating over. Special thanks to my SMG team and The Home Depot who supplied us with a lot of what we're carrying. Thanks Craig and Ted. Will post [censored] up as we see things. Adios!"

Also there were several pic of folks in Puerto Rico assembling supplies to take down to the bvi. One of them had # the real puertorican navy". Great people that enjoy holidays in the bvi and are responding generously in time of need. If the weather stays good I look for private boats brining donations from these folks to be a huge help in sustaining the victims of this disaster.

CAsey of Dive BVI just posted this on Facebook



Casey McKay McNutt is looking for recommendations.
19 mins
NEED HELP - Jim and Jeff flew over VG just now - they can land in EIS but need a boat to meet to get supplies to VG. We can do this today and NOW. Have boats in PR but if anyone knows of a boat that can meet them please call me - 1-754-757-6722 to coordinate with the group.

Thank goodness for your efforts and the good will being offered. Be safe and take care of yourselves.

beef island not destroyed just a hanger. fully operational <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

This just posted by Jeff McNutt of Dive BVI:

Brief recap from Relief Supply drop to Virgin Gorda yesterday:

Flew 2 private planes into Ceiba airport in Puerto Rico, unloaded planes into waiting box truck, unloaded into waiting boats at Police Marina. 5 boats took off for VG into 4-6 ft seas and got to Spanish Town around 1330. I met with local contacts who secured a dock for us to berth and unload. VG community had a 10 am meeting to assess the situation and decided to aggregate supplies at a central location. Police are on guard there to protect supplies. I checked on as many people as I could but had to get out before nightfall. Headed back to PR from Beef Island - runway has been cleared, but no tower operations. Overnighted there and departed to Orlando to get ready for Irma landfall in Florida.

The situation on VG is dire. The infrastructure is gone. Most roofs gone, debris everywhere. All 3 of our dive shops are gone. No idea about boats as I didn't have time to check. All employees accounted for and preps are being made to evacuate ASAP.

Security is seriously needed on VG. Police have had no contact with BVI govt. We supplied a Sat phone to head police officer (she has taken charge admirably). Order must be established, sanitation is required and WATER is an immediate threat. We supplied 50 cases of MREs, water, tarps/cordage, generators/extension cords, gloves, first aid kits, personal sanitation items, and more.

Commercial dock is structurally sound and cleared of debris. Cargo can be received at the port in Spanish Town. Please send help ASAP!