Hello everyone and happy Wednesday! We’ve been receiving numerous emails asking how the beaches fared during hurricanes Irma and Maria. We took several videos earlier this month to show you firsthand the destruction that these category five storms did to the island. The following video was taken at Trunk Bay on October 7th, one month after Hurricane Irma hit. You can see that the road and the parking lot area has been cleared (thank you National Park!), but the devastation is still clearly visible. We will have more videos showing Maho Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Coral Bay, East End and out to Salt Pond later this week.
An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI
You think you know what the word destruction means until you see something like this.Any word from the NPS on testing the beaches and giving the OK to swim? I read somewhere that it usually takes 3 months after a hurricane for the water to be safe.
Thanks so much for all of your posts, Jenn! We look at them everyday. I realize STJ has a long way to go, but we are actually surprised by the progress that has been made to date! Everyone must be working so very hard. We will be returning this April, as usual. Our home away from home. Fortunately the villa we rent near the Westin in Great Cruz Bay escaped virtually undamaged!!! Would love to see a couple of pics of Gibney. Did the palm trees at the west end survive? It’s our favorite little spot by far. Thanks again for all you do, Jenn. Take care!!
Thank you so much for your tireless work! I love St. John and really appreciate seeing what is going there. Keep up the good work.
Jenn – thanks again for all you are doing!!! Our Feb2018 schedule was just firmed up. Can you give us a sense of “sun protection” on the beaches for those that have had skin cancer? One of our favorite things was not needing umbrellas, but that is likely not be realistic given the Cat5 damage to the vegetation. We would be willing to help construct “permanent” umbrellas out of the palms if that is doable.
“permanent umbrellas out of palms”?
You can’t cut palms or any other vegetation in National Parks.
Marketta
I meant those already on the ground from the Cat5. Granted i see ones already assembled on Amazon or whatever.
Thank you for your posts. I live in northern Maine and have never seen such devastation. Keeping everyone in prayer.
Is there mail yet?
Did any of the churches make it through the hurricanes?
Thank you again for your posts and pictures.
Thank you so much for your posts. Both devastating and hopeful. Really curious if you have any information on the impact on the reefs?
here is a recent post with a lot of pics on Steve Simonsen’s facebook page from a dive he did on Little St. James around Oct. 6th. I just snorkeled this same area in August and it looks like the coral survived quite well there to me. My assumption is the shallow water coral may have not fared as well but have no first hand reports to back up that assumption:
https://m.facebook.com/SteveSimonsenPhotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155168634738668&_rdr
Following you everyday, can you post a video of south shore road? Keeping you in my thoughts.
Any videos planned for Hawksnest? Probably our favorite, with Mayo close behind. Thanks for keeping us all updated.
Hi Jenn: Thanks so much for all of your hard work, keeping us up to date day to day. We are hanging on every word and picture! We will be coming to St John (as usual) for as much of February as we can get away for. We will enjoy the island as we usually do, but this year will be completely different. Instead of just vacationing, we would like to be
occupied with helping out, rebuilding and helping everyone get back to normal. I’m a physician and my wife is involved with women’s cancer screening. Please advise of any and all opportunities to assist. I’m not a bad carpenter either. Thanks!
John & Sharon
If more people thought as you do, the world would be a much better place.
Look for your posts every day Jenn. As you hear from everyone St John is a very special place to us too. The people, the beaches, the way life is lived so simply….this is the way so many of us long to live. My heart aches for you all that had your everyday paradise so turned upside down. The work being done there is amazing, not surprising but it is beautiful!! Keeping you all in thoughts and sending lots of good jueju your way!! Continue to #spreadthelove in #loveforlovecity and everyone reading please donate through KC’s foundation!!
If more people thought as you do, the world would be a much better place.
Trunk bay, my favorite beach in the world, i am too old to wait for the beauty of this beach and island to refurbish itself, i will have to be happy with the memories, so sad. Nature at its worse.