Effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands

Hurricane Irma
	Hurricane Irma over the British Virgin Islands on 6 September
Meteorological history
Duration	5–7 September 2017
Category 5 major hurricane
	1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	180 mph (285 km/h)
Lowest pressure	915 mbar (hPa); 27.02 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	4 direct
Damage	$3.6 billion (2017 USD)
Areas affected	British Virgin Islands
	Part of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season
	History Meteorological history; Effects Caribbean Islands British Virgin Islands; ; United States Florida; ; Other wikis Commons: Irma images;

The effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands were significant in terms of both human and socio-economic impact on the Territory.^[1] Hurricane Irma struck the British Virgin Islands as a Category 5 hurricane during the daylight hours of Wednesday, 6 September 2017.^[2] It caused widespread destruction, and killed a total of four people.^[3] The eye of the hurricane traveled over the three major islands in the group: Virgin Gorda, Tortola and Jost Van Dyke.

The hurricane caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure in the Territory, and caused statistically significant levels of depopulation.^[4]

The Governor, Gus Jaspert, who had only been sworn in a few days previously, declared a state of emergency under the Territory's constitution, the first time this had ever happened.^[5] As radio facilities had been significantly damaged and were inoperable, the state of emergency had to be announced by distribution of flyers around the capital, Road Town.^[6]

^ "British Virgin Islands financial centre hit hard by Irma". Financial Times. 10 September 2017.
^ "British Virgin Islands tourism showing signs of recovery after Hurricane Irma". The Guardian. 30 January 2018. It sounds like an exaggeration but when Hurricane Irma knocked out the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on 6 September 2017 the winds did reach 215mph – faster still inside the tornadoes spinning on the edge of the storm's eye. Irma was the most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever to strike land and it ran an almost straight course through the whole island chain. Aside from one, outlying Anegada, all the islands were hit with Irma's worst: trees weren't just stripped of leaves but their bark, too. Irma left 85% of buildings destroyed or severely damaged and infrastructure on the main island, Tortola, was smashed.
^ Eliza Mackintosh and Donie O'Sullivan (12 September 2017). "Don't forget about us: Irma's desperate Caribbean survivors". CNN.
^ Cite error: The named reference depop was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Governor declares State of Emergency; says fatalities reported". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
^ Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 27.

[1] "British Virgin Islands financial centre hit hard by Irma". Financial Times. 10 September 2017.

[Woo-2] "British Virgin Islands tourism showing signs of recovery after Hurricane Irma". The Guardian. 30 January 2018. It sounds like an exaggeration but when Hurricane Irma knocked out the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on 6 September 2017 the winds did reach 215mph – faster still inside the tornadoes spinning on the edge of the storm's eye. Irma was the most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever to strike land and it ran an almost straight course through the whole island chain. Aside from one, outlying Anegada, all the islands were hit with Irma's worst: trees weren't just stripped of leaves but their bark, too. Irma left 85% of buildings destroyed or severely damaged and infrastructure on the main island, Tortola, was smashed.

[3] Eliza Mackintosh and Donie O'Sullivan (12 September 2017). "Don't forget about us: Irma's desperate Caribbean survivors". CNN.

[depop-4] Cite error: The named reference depop was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] "Governor declares State of Emergency; says fatalities reported". BVI News. Retrieved 28 September 2017.

[6] Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 27.

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