Sep 6. 1 year after Irma what do you think/remember

One year ago, I can remember the hours/days as the storm approached, listening to laser 101 (and their professionalism) that night until they went down, wondering and waiting and it was worse than I could imagine.

I remember Samaritans purse DC-8 coming in early and repeatedly.

I remember the Air Force-Guard going in bringing out Americans

I remember the King of NL/Pres of France coming.

I remember the first pictures and reports.

I remember people asking about whereabouts of individuals.

I guess in the big picture folks were lucky with little direct/immediate loss of life. ( I wonder if there wasn’t a Puerto Rico like death impact where stress and such precipitated more deaths).

Anyway, the island is resilient and bouncing back and people are coming back and we,can wait until December to do so,ourselves.

On This Day One Year Ago

How a Solar Flare Amped Up Chaos of Hurricane Irma

https://www.space.com/41330-solar-flare-interference-hurricane-irma.html

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2017/09/hurricane-irma-florida-caribbean/

This time one year ago I was sitting in a dark room holding Bill's hands with the world around us falling apart, expecting to never see the light of day again. Beyond that, it's a blur.

Wow what an event to live through. Our sorrow for the loss of life and destruction just hardens our resolve to return and play a part, although small, in helping the recovery. Nine days to go.

I remember watching and waiting for ANY news with my eyes watering up as I thought about island friends and their families. There was a huge hole in my heart and the hole kept growing as news reports and video trickled out in the following days.

Over the following month, I remember reading from longtime visitors that it could be two years or more before this island was ready for tourism.

Just look how far this resilient island has come!

SXM STRONG!

I remember the friends that were vacationing in the States that we picked up in Seattle to stay with us before they frew home the day Irma hit. Five weeks later they were finally able to return to their home in Great Bay. We saw the angst and stress they went through every day not knowing what they would find upon their return and when they could return. Glad we could help them with a place to stay. They are like family now.

I remember being glued to this board and similar sources, when I could, and waiting with baited breath for news and updates as they became a available. Thank you Carol & Eric for having this board and allowing all of us to participate. This board, back then and even today, has been a great source of information.

I recall checking the radar on weatherchannel.com and I did a screenshot at the time the eye passed over.

My strongest remembrance of that day was saying a small prayer of Thanks giving over my morning coffee that the storm was pretty much done, at least in St. Martin and the limited word we had from the Island was that our friends and ‘Island family’ had made it through the storm and were mostly okay. Early on there was much talk of incredible damage but I don’t think they yet had any idea of the actual magnitude of the damages, or that in all probability the worse might still be yet to come. Having recalled the recovery AFTER Luis and Lenny, we knew the people of SXM were strong, resourceful and resilient and they would persevere and we were ever so thankful that early reports of loss of life was minimal.

I remember checking the Club O web cam one last time on the 5th. Watching the PTZ Maho cam and listening to the air traffic controllers saying good bye to the last flights and the pilots wishing them good luck. Watching the port cam into the evening, saying to myself, it doesn't look that bad yet, knowing it was going to get much worse, and monitored TTOL a lot. I watched some live stream Facebook posts the morning of the 6th, during the eye passing over before round two, praying that the all the people would be ok. As the reports and pictures came in it felt like a gut punch. I'm glad they are recovering. It feels slow to us, but it must feel like forever to them. Stay strong!

It was like watching a real-life nightmare unfold as I followed this storm on my computer here in the states. First, it struck the beautiful island of St. Bart's and then a direct hit to SXM was imminent. Places so beautiful with so many good people having to endure this just seemed so unfair. I thought about all the wonderful residents I had come to know from past visits. From the nice staff at Holland House to the 'Yoda' guy to the great staff at the Butterfly Farm ... I was so worried about their safety and well being that I had trouble getting to sleep that night. I expected total devastation along Orient Beach, but structures can be rebuilt (eventually). The relatively low loss of life was of some relief, but I knew the further suffering that these people would have to endure.

For the next month I tried to find whatever video feed and stream I could find online so I could see the damage for myself. Our December visit was cancelled, but down deep I knew that St. Martin would bounce back and be better than ever. Now, one year later I am a bit frustrated with the issues that have arisen with places like Club O., but at the same time I'm inspired by the continued news of other places re-opening and coming back strong. A place like St. Martin is simply too special to stay down forever, and I look forward to next April when we'll will resume our visits to SXM.

I was out of my mind petrified for all of my island friends and what they would have to endure, during and after. I watched the Maho cam until it went down in the wee hours. My jaw was on the floor over the sheer ferocity of Irma - I was beside myself with worry. I was constantly on Facebook in the following days for any word from friends, be it from them personally, or from family that had heard from them. I remember there was a FB group for missing people. Just name after name, a constant stream - loved ones from all over the world wondering if they were ok. I'd be so happy when a connection was made - someone had seen or heard from them. Most were strangers to me, some were not. It was such a relief to those of us who love the island and it's people. It's been wonderful to see the island rebuild. People helping each other along as time marched on. SXM is such a gem of an island, but we knew that already

I bought my plane ticket for March last night. Royal Islander isn't open yet, but we hope to pick up where we left off in '17. My family and I cannot wait to see our beloved friends again, and to give them the longest hug in the world. Elaine and Bill - you're up first!

We'll be waiting. With a room if necessary Sheila. xx