St Thomas Update and RCI Irma Response

[twangster]

Five years ago I had a contract on St Thomas that lasted almost two years.  In those two years I got to know all of the USVI.  There is nothing like living somewhere to really get to know the culture.  I've been communicating with a local resident I used to work with who lived through Irma and the struggles since.  This morning was the first sign of hope in his communication, they've been pretty bleak up to this point.  

His message today read "Yesterday was a great day.  Tim Duncan, pro basketball player, also a virgin islander, distributed a lot of food at the Innovative parking lot.  I volunteered to assist giving bags of food away".  That's the most hopeful and positive message I've received so far.

Up until today his messages have repeatedly discussed a lack of food and water.  Even after Majesty OTS visited there dropping off supplies earlier this week, its taken time for those and other supplies reaching the island to make it into the hands of the residents.  I understand that, it takes time for local authorities and relief organizations to triage the situation and with so many in need, to get more supplies flowing and distributed to the people in need.  Watching this unfold from both sides has been nerve racking and frustrating but in my heart I knew it would be a process that wouldn't happen overnight. 

I'd like to personally thank any Royal Caribbean employees at all levels of the organization who might read this post.  

In a natural disaster anywhere an immediate response is critical to saving lives.  With island factors involved that is even more so the case.  As first responders, relief organizations and governments began to mobilize their forces, Royal Caribbean employees worked to fulfill the gap in those critical first days after Hurricane Irma had passed bringing much needed supplies and evacuating stranded travelers, reducing the number of victims vying for limited food and water.

Since 2016 I've been evaluating new cruise lines to sail with.  My upcoming Harmony cruise will mark the 5th with the Royal Caribbean family in support of that goal.  It had been my intention to continue to explore different cruise lines not because I was unhappy with any of those cruises,  more because I just wanted to be familiar with all my options before zeroing in on any line in particular.   My search is over.  Watching Royal Caribbean's response to Irma I know I found the right cruise line.  

For me with my St Thomas connection this is personal.  I look forward to cruising back there one day when the time is right.  I'll find other ways to help when the time is appropriate, going there right now would just make me another mouth to feed.

For those with cruises impacted I'm sorry and I know its upsetting, but Royal Caribbean made a real difference deploying their ships as they did.

Before joining this forum, I posted in another forum shortly after talking to my friend earlier this week.  His call came in late one night and after I couldn't sleep so I started writing.  

I apologize for making this post very long, but thought the context was important.  Things on island are improving.  There is a still a long way to go.  It will take months to get power back.  Recovery is a process and it has begun.   It's only going to get better from here.

 

Here is my post, from 9-12-2017:

I finally heard back from a former coworker and friend on St Thomas tonight.   

Area code 340 appeared on my phone as I watched the evening news in Denver.  My heart skipped a beat, I know that area code, I know it's the USVI. It felt surreal having to mute my 70" big screen TV and look at my large glass of ice water beside me as he explained how things are on St Thomas.  I used to work there with him.  I know the islands well. 

Now, no power, no water, little food.  Multiple check points.  Curfew 6pm to noon.  They can't open the supermarkets fully for fear of looting, so the National Guard allows 8-10 in at a time to pick from the small selection of food. Long lines waiting for your turn.  He seemed pleased to have a few items of food from his last visit.  He had found a working ATM and was able to get cash for food.  Small miracles.  Between getting there and waiting in line, it's an all day affair.  Curfew.  

He was aware of the cruise ship visit today and why they were there - to pick up stranded travelers, but he knew nothing of the supplies being left by the ships.  "Where did they go?" was his question, meaning the supplies, not the travelers.  

He still works for the same company where I was a contractor.  He explained how he works noon to six because that is when curfew is lifted.  He goes to the office building where I used to work from and tries to keep some of the equipment from over heating by moving fans around.  They have a generator, but not one to run the air conditioning for the building, a building which is damaged.  They all are. Today he tried to make it to the Home Depot to buy something for the office.  That took 2 1/2 hours.  It used to take 10 - 15 minutes from Tutu.   Lots of check points. VI police at one, National Guard at another, Marines at a 3rd.  He wasn't sure they were Marines, but some sort of military.  Turns out Home Depot was closed.  No power and damaged.  With no time to lose, he headed back.  He had to, curfew in 2 hours.  A work day lost.  Many of the company buildings are damaged.  Some of these are the central offices of the local Telco where we worked.  They were the backbone of island communication before Irma.  He was grateful to have cell signal tonight.  I felt guilty talking to him for so long knowing it was draining his battery, but it seemed like he wanted to talk, needed to talk. He can charge it in the office tomorrow he explained.  Our calls dropped numerous times but he promptly called me back each time. 

"It's hard" he explained.  "Everything is hard".  I could hear it in his voice.  Even doing nothing all morning but laying in bed until noon.  Curfew.  Can't go outside, nothing to do inside.  His house damaged he is living with friends.  Even bathing is hard.  No water and it's hard to bathe in the ocean and be salty.  

He was hoping to make it to St Croix soon.  The company has offices there.  He could keep his job.  That's really important in the VI, jobs are hard to come by and he is grateful to have one.   St Croix felt some effects from Irma but nothing like St Thomas and especially not like St John.  "I'm blessed" he told me.  "People on St John have it very bad".  He explained they are resettling anyone they can from St John over to St Croix.   For the moment that means he can't go to St Croix.  Maybe soon he hopes.  They have power, and water.  Some of St Croix does he heard.  He told me several times how fortunate he is.

I felt silly asking if he needed anything, both of us knowing there would be no way for me to ship it to him.  Maybe soon. Until then I've got to find a way to help.  We all do.

Since writing this late last night I woke to the news that Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas remains in the area and is doing runs between San Juan and St Thomas.  Shout out to the NCL Sky for her visit Monday, I was checking out her webcam while she was there.  Even bigger shout out to Royal Caribbean for keeping Majesty OTS in the area for a few days.  I know other lines are helping in other places too.  

 The biggest challenge in a natural disaster anywhere is surviving the first few weeks.   Add the island factor and the fact that there are two islands, St Thomas and St John and it becomes a massive challenge.  With more supplies continuing to arrive they will eventually make it to the people.  Looters won't feel the need to loot, curfews can be relaxed, people will shift focus to items like getting the power on and water running.  

 It won't happen overnight but don't underestimate the resolve of VI residents, these are American citizens after all.  St Thomas and St John will rebuild.  I look forward to returning on a cruise one day.  Until then donate if you can and thank the cruise lines for their role in this critical phase of surviving the next few weeks.   

 

[rjac]

Don't worry about the length of your post, please keep the news/updates coming! All of those folks are in our thoughts and prayers. 

[tiny260]

Agree with @rjac don't worry about the length, great write up, very "aware" point of view. Lot of people may not understand some of the terminology you mentioned "Central office" "CO", I to work in the phone business and have been fighting remnants of Huricanne Harvey since Labor Day weekend.

Let your friend know he is in our thoughts and prayers, if there is anything he needs, tell him to ask, will get it to him if possible.

[twangster]

@rjac and @tiny260

Thanks!

[twangster]

9-18-2017 and St Thomas is in panic.  Just heard from my friend on island.  Hurricane Maria forecast to arrive in a day or so.

Here we go again... 

[Floski]

Asking God to have mercy on them and all in this hurricane's path.

[DaGunny]

I'll add this to RCCL's responsiveness.  We were on the Enchantment Evacuation Cruise. You can read about it here.  They overcame many obstacles and took care of those of us that had no power at home or way to get back.  Well done!

Evacuation Cruise Synopsis

[twangster]

57 minutes ago, DaGunny said:

I'll add this to RCCL's responsiveness.  We were on the Enchantment Evacuation Cruise. You can read about it here.  They overcame many obstacles and took care of those of us that had no power at home or way to get back.  Well done!

Evacuation Cruise Synopsis

Thanks so much for sharing.  I follow James Van Fleet on twitter and saw some of his RCTV Weather update videos as it was playing out.

I was watching many ships on the internet that day as they waited for the ports to reopen, including Enchantment.  I was also listening to marine VHF over the internet and heard a great conversation between the captains of Oasis and Harmony.   The Oasis captain had more time to wait before Canaveral would open so he suggested the ships meet up and do a sail past.  I thought that would be awesome.   The Harmony captain politely declined so he could maintain his position close to Everglades waiting patiently for port to reopen.  Both had already discussed they had many FL residents on board and knew this was tough on them, so in staying close to Everglades he placed his guests first despite what would have been a cool moment to see.  Very professional.

Port Miami was delayed opening due to three navigational buoys in the channel out of position.  News reports say there were sailboats sunk but I'm not sure about that.   I listened to the tugs working on the buoys and trying to get them back in position, the captains of each tug trying various things to move them.  It involved divers, airbags and a lot of seamanship using their tugs to accomplish the job.   One buoy had slipped down into the center of the channel and was particularly difficult to move.  All this extended the opening of the port.  Another cruise line had a number of ships in the area.  Their bridge crews were frequently calling the harbor pilots time and again.  You could hear the tone of the harbor pilots responding, telling them time and again "...the port remains closed, we are still waiting for the coast guard to tell us when we can open.  We will contact you when we are ready".  Thirty minutes later they asked again.  I heard Enchantment call just once, very professional and very polite.  A few minutes the other ships inquired again!  When the time came to finally reopen Enchantment sailed in first.

Awesome about the switch to Harmony.  I'm on her in 12 days and so looking forward to it.