Hurricane Earl hits the BVI - 30 August 2010

Hurricane Earl was a category 3 hurricane to hit the BVI and the surrounding Virgin Islands.

I has just returned from London on Saturday night, and I was looking forward to spending a day of relaxing on Monday in lieu of the 16 hours of travel on Saturday. Sunday rolled around, and phone calls were coming in from work not to come to work till the storm passes! We spent entire Sunday picking up groceries and inspecting the safety of our house.

We went to bed Sunday night and work up to what seemed like nighttime on Monday morning. In the middle of the night, the entire island lost all electricity and water. It was apparent that the BVI electricity company was anticipating the worst.

Originally we had planned to shelter at home. Tanis and Casey phoned us, to tell us that the office had a generator and we should bring food, beers, the xbox and Dundee. With no better reason to stay in our home, we packed suitcases and bedding with intentions of staying the night at the office. The KPMG office is considered an approved hurricane building in the BVI.

At the office, the four of us kept each other entertained - we stuffed our faces with food, looked out into the storm (and the drunk crazies walking in the storm!), made bets on structural casualties, and listened to Casey's memories of hurricane Ivan when it hit the Cayman Islands. Time elapsed quickly... with the help of some rock and roll on the guitar hero and a case of Carib.

Long Bay west end

Road Town ferry station

The ocean flooding over the concrete wall at Cane Garden Bay.

200 Mile per hour winds

Bomba Shack in the early stages of destruction

The eye of the storm must have passed us later in the evening, just as we thought it would be safe to go home, we only saw the worst. While everyone was still sheltered at home, we were one of the first cars on the road to witness the damages. We drove over branches, around tree trunks, under electrical wires, and through rubble, back to our dark home with no electricity. There was nothing left to do but go to bed. On Tuesday morning, the government requested for everyone to stay off he road....

The damages in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl.....


There were no reports of major damages, injuries or death, but many trees were uprooted and houses on the lower flat facing the sea suffered some amount of flooding from rising sea swells.

The wind has blown all the leaves off all the trees, and the jungle is now reminiscent of damages of a forest fire - everything is grey and bare - really sad looking :o(

Bomba Shack was completely destroyed.
Ironically, Bomba will probably have more than enough driftwood to repair the bar in no time.

Someones power boat - likely a new BVI dive site soon

Festival tents hanging off the tree at the four-way stop near the Police Station.

Its Thursday night, we have had electricity for about 24 hours now, and we have returned to work. Almost everyone we have spoken to still does not have electricity or water - but they have been promised to have it running by Friday!

Tropical Depression Guston is approaching from Africa, and should be arriving in the BVI in the next couple of days. Unless it dissipates, we are on our routine of packing the family, together with the xbox and a case of beer for entertainment.