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Re: How long until you'd consider the BVI "back to normal"?
[Re: JCarver27]
#155397
02/21/2018 06:05 PM
02/21/2018 06:05 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,672 Memphis, BVI, CT
RatmansWife
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,672
Memphis, BVI, CT
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Having made three trips down here since Irma, I would say a very long time. Even places that are open, like Pusser Sopers, are a shadow of their former selves. Many places have not re-opened. There is no Customs building at West End. Maybe half the homes lost their roofs, and only a few have been replaced. Many folks don’t have the money. Schools and government buildings are in rough shape, as are many businesses in Road Town. Normal, in my guess, is years away.
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Re: How long until you'd consider the BVI "back to normal"?
[Re: JCarver27]
#155410
02/21/2018 08:19 PM
02/21/2018 08:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,270 Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
tpcook
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,270
Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
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Having just come back, I think the ferry service will be back at most within 6 months. Roadtown Fast Ferry has 2 new 300 passenger cats but does not use them on the RT to STT run as there is little traffic. Speedy ferry is up and running but two ferries have open bottoms and are bring repaired. Maybe another 6 months to repair. Smith's ferry has no boats.
Government has MANY buildings that will require 10's of millions to repair each. They are trying to borrow money. Problem is how is how does it get repaid.
Leverick Bay is back to normal. Lots of work still to do but everything is open. Houses are getting repaired but like my own villa, I just settled with the insurance company and are now going full speed to repair which will take 8-10 months.
Beaches are fine but little vegetation means no place to stay out of the sun. Cruise charter boats are coming back either being repaired or replaced so that industry should be fine in 6 months.
So in a nutshell the big problem is how does all this get paid for. Many locals have no insurance, the Catholic Church on VG has no insurance and needs a roof and has only found 1/2 of the pews. ONly 50 families support the church so money is tight.
The other problem is almost no tourists and I can understand that. That will take a couple of years to bring back.
The mood on VG is VERY up beat and if you can do construction you are fine.
Last edited by tpcook; 02/21/2018 08:20 PM.
tpcook
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Re: How long until you'd consider the BVI "back to normal"?
[Re: JCarver27]
#155412
02/21/2018 08:36 PM
02/21/2018 08:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277 Saint Thomas, USVI
CaptainJay
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
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I actually hate the word "normal". But I will try to respond to this anyway. By "normal' if you mean when will the area be like it was before September 2017? The answer is never. The kind of event that we all went through, two cat five hurricanes in two weeks changes every thing. Nothing will ever be exactly the same. Some businesses with thrive, some will fail and some will just hang on. Places like Bomba's for example seem doomed. The Willy T's seems posed for a comeback but with descriptions like bigger and better it could easily become a watered down commercialized version of itself. Some would like that better some would not. Other businesses will spring up from the ashes. The inevitable march of time and change will be the only normal for some time.
Having said that the Virgin Islands are still one of the most beautiful places on the planet. The opportunity to spend some time in a less crowed Virgin Islands should not be missed. I would assume from the OP's comments the underlying question is when should we come back? That is a much simpler question. Come back now or at least as soon as you can work it out. There are boats available. The sailing and water are as spectacular as ever. The businesses that are open will welcome you. The crowds are down and you can feel good about supporting the industry that a lot of us make a living at. You might also find that a simpler experience with more quality time and less stuff is good for the soul.
So think of this as the "new normal". Great sailing, a few less tourist traps and a spectacular destination.
Jay
Last edited by CaptainJay; 02/21/2018 08:38 PM.
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Re: How long until you'd consider the BVI "back to normal"?
[Re: JCarver27]
#155438
02/22/2018 12:50 PM
02/22/2018 12:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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I think Jay hit the nail on the head..
We saw first hand what Irene did 6.5 years ago in Vermont. I'm sure others have seen what Katrina did, Sandy, and even Irma did in Florida..etc. Some of the businesses in these places have never come back. We still see a few businesses in Vermont that are standing, but empty and nothing being done due to the cost of repairs. And this is in the States where we have a lot more resources and money available and still 6.5 years later, things are not back to what they were. With that said, the new "normal" is fine and there's really no downside to it - aside from a few abandoned buildings.
I imagine everything in the BVI (like it always has) will move even slower and take longer. The damage there was worse. And like all the other places hit with storms (except maybe Sandy given the value of the land in areas hit) we'll see some businesses come back and some disappear forever. And eventually - a long while from now likely see a new one here or there.
Fortunately the big attraction to the BVI is the environment - wind, water..etc. that's all still there and enjoyable. I know we're itching to go back as soon as we can.
Matt
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Re: How long until you'd consider the BVI "back to normal"?
[Re: CaptainJay]
#155511
02/23/2018 11:54 AM
02/23/2018 11:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 39
JCarver27
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 39
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I actually hate the word "normal". But I will try to respond to this anyway. By "normal' if you mean when will the area be like it was before September 2017? The answer is never. The kind of event that we all went through, two cat five hurricanes in two weeks changes every thing. Nothing will ever be exactly the same. Some businesses with thrive, some will fail and some will just hang on. Places like Bomba's for example seem doomed. The Willy T's seems posed for a comeback but with descriptions like bigger and better it could easily become a watered down commercialized version of itself. Some would like that better some would not. Other businesses will spring up from the ashes. The inevitable march of time and change will be the only normal for some time.
Having said that the Virgin Islands are still one of the most beautiful places on the planet. The opportunity to spend some time in a less crowed Virgin Islands should not be missed. I would assume from the OP's comments the underlying question is when should we come back? That is a much simpler question. Come back now or at least as soon as you can work it out. There are boats available. The sailing and water are as spectacular as ever. The businesses that are open will welcome you. The crowds are down and you can feel good about supporting the industry that a lot of us make a living at. You might also find that a simpler experience with more quality time and less stuff is good for the soul.
So think of this as the "new normal". Great sailing, a few less tourist traps and a spectacular destination.
Jay
Love this response. Thank you. And thank you to everybody else that has posted since I last did. I love these islands, just like you all do.
O-H!
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Re: How long until you'd consider the BVI "back to normal"?
[Re: Manpot]
#155541
02/23/2018 02:41 PM
02/23/2018 02:41 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,671
LBI2SXM
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,671
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To put a positive spin on this..I think we will be back to the way we were in the 80's..less traffic..less crowded beach bars...less fighting over the almighty $$..for me that is bringing the BVI's back to the place I first fell in love with and why I sunk everything I had into buying a beachfront home there. Just my HO..Now if the damn ( pathetic insurance check would clear...) That's exactly the reason we fell in love with the BVI's. Remember when? The 80's were great! (wish be bought then).
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