USVI HURRICANE UPDATE - ST. THOMAS & ST. JOHN (August 2018)
DISASTER PROFILE On September 6, 2017 Hurricane Irma slammed into the US Virgin Islands as a Category 5 storm, with record wind speed of 200 mph. The islands suffered severe wind and flood damage, reducing many areas to rubble. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria struck the islands on September 20 as a Category 4 storm and damaged several community facilities and individual homes. The storms have severely affected the community, tourism, and local economy. OUR WORK Thanks to critical support from partners like Norwegian Cruise Lines, Island Spirit Fund, donors, local community, and volunteers from around the world, All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response has run an impactful program on St. Thomas since September 27th, 2017 and St. John since February 16th, 2018. We have responded to the community’s needs with debris removal, mucking and gutting, mold sanitization, and now full rebuilds for homes and schools. CURRENT ACTIVITIES With a smaller response (muck and gut, sanitation) queue we are now transitioning into full recovery on both St.John and St.Thomas. Working alongside our partners we have started full rebuild and are nearing completion on the first individual homes. We are still on track with our school rebuilds and have now completed three schools with five in progress. By the end of August, we will have worked on 500 sites on St.Thomas alone and are planning an event to celebrate this accomplishment. Back on base it has been a pleasure to host and provide a space for homeowners to share a meal and their experiences with volunteers. We even have been lucky enough to enjoy karaoke nights and performances put on by our homeowners. With 70 volunteers and more incoming, our donors and partners have generously backed our long-term commitment to the USVI community.
A volunteer removes fallen drywall from a homeowner’s attic. During a muck and gut the team removes anything that could have mold or the potential for it. Removing mold is an important step of response that can prevent serious health issues from exposure to mold. Many homeowners had been staying in affected homes.
Volunteers screw in plywood on the roof of St.Andrew’s computer lab. In just 31 days the team were able to complete debris removal, muck and gut, and rebuild the roof. Volunteers are now rebuildling the interior and are estimated to complete the school at the end of this month.
OUR IMPACT
6,188
PEOPLE IMPACTED
1,196
1,070
JOBS COMPLETED
VOLUNTEERS
20,827
VOLUNTEER DAYS
From Homeowner to Volunteer Homeowner, Charmaine, decided to volunteer with All Hands and Hearts after volunteers did debris management on her home. Having homeowners become volunteers is a reminder of how impactful All Hands and Hearts’ work is in the community. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this. After All Hands and Hearts helped me with my home I knew who to turn to. They’re also helping me learn to use the proper tools to help my grandparents and friends too. It’s nice to be able to help out my community through AHAH the same way they helped me.”-Charmaine
“Sunbeam Pre-School
Hurricanes Irma and Maria have affected the children academically and mentally. With the original preschool now just a metal foundation; the children were relocated to a small shared space with the Church’s Sunday School. Volunteers’ tireless efforts of debris removal, rebuilding, painting, and tiling, have led to the completion of our third school as well as provided a safe space for children to thrive in. ‘Many cannot explain it or understand it, why certain things have been taken from them. They are still traumatized and cry even 10 months later about their parents not having homes or jobs. If parents aren’t ok, their children aren’t ok. Some parents have no homes. If one is affected, the whole community is affected. I want to thank AHAH, you gave me a light for the children of our community.”-Mrs. Youville Leathan, Principal
OUR MISSION To effectively and efficiently address the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. By listening to local people, and deploying a unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, we rebuild safe, resilient schools, homes and other community infrastructure.
OUR USVI PARTNERS
4 YEARS IN A ROW! Only 13% of charities have received at least 4 consecutive 4-star ratings. This means All Hands and Hearts outperforms most of the other 1.5 million charities in America in operational and financial efficiency.
@ALLHANDSANDHEARTS
@ALLHANDSANDHEARTS
@ALLHANDSHEARTS
For additional information: Olivia Hara, Partnership Manager olivia.h2@allhandsandhearts.org or (413) 992-9263 www.allhandsandhearts.org