Hurricane Irma Relief! Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines assist with relief effort!

We have all seen the terrible devastation that Hurricane Irma unleashed on the Caribbean Islands and then in Florida.

So what of these storm-ravaged islands?  Up to 185mph winds ripped through some of these islands leaving people stranded and homeless.

Royal Caribbean mobilized ships to support the relief.  The US Government said that Royal Caribbean had sent one of its cruise ships to St Maarten port, to take evacuees  as part of the Hurricane Irma Relief.  They have also sent a ship to St Thomas on humanitarian missions to help those affected.  Other ships were on standby ready to assist.

Norwegian Cruise Lines also dispatched a ship to St Thomas to pick up those people left stranded and homeless by this devastating storm.

I was glued to CNN watching as the events unfolded.  Nearly seven million people had been told to leave their homes in mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders in Florida.  I have friends living in this State and I’m thankful that they are all alive and well, waiting for power and clearing trees and debris from their homes.

It is estimated that 12.5 million residents are without power in the now raging heat and it could take weeks before this is restored.

How will the people cope in this aftermath?  How will they rebuild their lives , homes, communities and their livelihoods?  Will you think twice about visiting these islands in future?

I will never look at a ‘storm’ in the UK in quite the same way again.  We had what was said to be fairly strong winds in my area overnight and when I looked out of my bedroom window this morning there were wheelie bins on the ground – nothing compared to the complete devastation that Hurricane Irma wreaked.