Bringing Assistance to the U.S. Virgin Islands After Hurricanes Irma and Maria

In September 2017, the U.S. Virgin Islands suffered two extremely destructive Category 5 hurricanes within 12 days of each other. The islands were ravaged by 240-mile-per-hour winds that left catastrophe in their wake, destroying up to 60% of homes and some 400 boats. The infrastructure of St. John was particularly hard hit; nearly every home was damaged and power was cut for six weeks.

Bloomberg Philanthropies stepped in immediately, maintaining on-the-ground staff in St. John during Hurricane Maria. We also imported critical resources, including more than 200 tons of food, fuel, medical supplies, communications gear, and tarps, allowing residents to focus on cleaning up.

Priority medical patients were evacuated via helicopter and sea-based transport; providers from Johns Hopkins Medical Center set up a temporary clinic in St. John after the only urgent care facility on the island was rendered inoperative. We also sponsored a free daily shuttle from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay, which helped residents conserve fuel, and brought in tractors to help remove debris from roadways.