Hurricane Irma Hits British Virgin Islands Hard; Foxy’s, Soggy Dollar Bar & Bitter End Updates

Foxy Is Okay, Gertrude Injured But Fine, Roof Is On Foxy’s, Bitter End Yacht Club Completely Destroyed

One of the worst-hit places in the Virgin Islands from Hurricane Irma was the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.

There is little power, phone and Internet connection is spotty at best and there is significant damage throughout the island.

Foxy’s bar, the legendary watering hole in an area known as Great Harbour and one of the most recognized places on Jost Van Dyke, has been keeping people updated with social media posts on its Twitter and Facebook accounts. PubClub.com is also checking other sources for updates and information. Keep reading for information from the Bitter End Yacht Club, Tortola and what we have from the Soggy Dollar Bar; as of Monday its webcam was still down.

People have been asking about One Love and unfortunately it – and Gertrude’s –is destroyed. So, too, is Bomba’s Shack.

This Twitter post is from singer/songwriter Eric Stone, who recently lived in St. Thomas and has performed at bars throughout the BVIs:

Soggy Dollar was 99% destroyed, same as the rest of most of White Bay. Very sad.

— Eric Stone (@EricStoneBand) September 11, 2017

The comments below from people are also excellent and thank you for posting those; keep ’em coming!

Hurricane Irma BVIs Update And From Foxy’s Bar:

As you can see from the comments below, Gertrude was injured and helicoptered out of the islands but is okay.

On Tortola, pooling of stagnant water in the streets and a destroyed utility system have raised concerns about disease and other public health threats. Royal Engineers and Commandos arrived on Tortola and are providing security and recovery operations. Downed power lines are everywhere in the streets.

Here is an update from Foxy’s posted Sunday night:

“After a hurricane of bad news, we are finally seeing rays of hope today.Jost van Dyke is DEVASTED.. BUT..From the JVD community to our friends in St. John, St. Thomas, Peuerto Rico and further afield.. we are in this one together.

“AID is finally starting to roll in and we were delighted to spot this picture of Justine Callwood today from the VERY first drop. THANK YOU CONN DAVIS and anyone else in your mission who made this happen.

“We received word that part of Foxy’s is in tact. and everyone was gathered together cooking in the kitchen and we are getting reports that the community is working together.

“Foxy’s has been serving ‘food and strong rum drinks to sailors and visitors since 1966.’ Regardless of the state of the physical structure, this will continue.

“We need our friends to support us º JVD is in dire need of AID. Those of displaced JVD’ers are agonizing — but can not imagine what our counterparts who are there have been thought.

“We are officially letting you all know that as we are ready to receive visitors, we’d like to proudly announce that we will be open for business.

“Just like we need your aid in the long run JVD needs your business.

“Please don’t forget us. The road ahead is going to be long and hard.

“But there is a hammock and a sandy beach at the end.”

St. Croix Update

Here’s some good news: St. Croix in the USVI is quickly getting back to normal.

Friday evening Update

Here is an update Friday from Foxy’s Facebook page:

“Amazingly it appears that the roofs are still in tact on main building at Foxy’s… so we have something to start with.”

Friday afternoon:

“Reports from JVD are scant, but the word is that the physical building that was Foxy’s is gone– alone with about most all of the buildings. We have a second hand report that Foxy and Family are fine.

“We are, at present, hearing of people checking in, and it will take a while to account for all staff and community members’ safety. We are still worried about staff and other community members and anxiously waiting to hear about their safety.

“What is really important at this point is the people. We are not at a point that we have a clear list, but the encouraging news is that we are slowing getting word that the tough people of JVD are ‘ok’ –(alive).

“Please feel free to contribute to the aid relief fund we have set up. We will have more information about other ways to help soon (such as temporary lodging to hurricane refugees, physical supplies, etc).

This was an update on what was posted Thursday:

“Hello everyone, many thanks for the thought and prayers.

“The situation in the Virgin Islands, as you are probably aware, is not good. Great Harbour is blacked out – no phone communication – and a few reports from the time the eye passed through.

“Please keep your thoughts with us. We will share news soon on relief effort. Things will be rebuilt; however, our main concern now is human welfare.

“We will keep you posted.”

A GoFundMe page set up on Thursday morning for residents and businesses in Jost Van Dyke had raised nearly $28,000 by Friday afternoon.

The page states: “We are friends of Jost Van Dyke helping to raise money for basic life saving needs in the wake of hurricane Irma. 

“We are working with the Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society (which is a certified BVI non profit organization and maintains 501c3 status in the US) as well as friends on Saint Croix that are working with the Coast Guard to coordinate relief efforts.”

The link to the GoFundMe page is:

https://www.gofundme.com/jost-van-dyke-humanitarian-aid

Foxy’s  Bar Twitter account is: https://twitter.com/foxysbar

Another famous bar in the BVIs, the Soggy Dollar Bar, which is on another part of Jost Van Dyke known as White Bay, is almost completely destroyed. It posted this update on its Facebook page:

“This is Jamie’s brother. Just heard from Jamie and he and Stacy are good and will give me an update as soon as they can.”

Bitter End Yacht Club Latest Update

The Bitter End Yacht Club was, unfortunately, completely destroyed. It posted this message on Sunday:

“It has been a heartbreaking week for all of us. We wish we could tell you today that the videos and photos you have seen of Bitter End are not real. The reality is that Bitter End Yacht Club and the community of Virgin Gorda have been devastated by Hurricane Irma. In response to the overwhelming outreach received, we have set up a fund to support the employees of Bitter End and the Virgin Gorda community rebuild their lives.

“Since 1973 when we were founded as a family retreat, what has made Bitter End so unique is the people that work and live there. These are the people who have been hit the hardest by this storm.

“They have lost their homes, their schools, their neighborhoods. If you would like to provide a donation, please click on the link below and learn how to help Bitter End Employees, their families and the entire Virgin Gorda community rebuild.

“Thank you all for your love and support of Bitter End. We feel it.” https://www.youcaring.com/bitterendyachtclubemployeesthevir…

Catamaran Sailboat Charters Updates

• Catamaran Charters statement: “The vast majority of Catamaran Charters BVI fleet has been sunk or severely damaged.”

• The Moorings statement: “”The damage sustained at our locations in St Martin and British Virgin Islands is extensive, but our guests are safe. Thank you everyone for your support, prayers and offers to help. The impact at our locations in the Caribbean is heartbreaking but our guests are safe and we continue to reach out to all of our team members.

“However with major damage to cell phone towers and power outages communications remain difficult at this time. We are in the process of assessing the damage to our fleet and properties.”

The Moorings has set up this relief fund for employees.