Hurricane Irma – real-time coverage as Florida faces the storm of a lifetime

SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

Downtown Miami under water

From Rodolfo Müller, who runs duty free and travel retail at WorldConnect (Skross) comes this incredible picture (right) of the streets of Miami. Fortunately Rodolfo is safe, 483 miles northwest in Tallahassee.

Here is an edited version of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s summary of the impact of Irma on various islands, dated 9 September:

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua was not impacted by Hurricane Irma with electricity being resort to the Capital St. John’s and most parts of the island. The V.C. Bird International Airport opened for all flights on Thursday, 7 September. On the other hand, Barbuda with its approximately 1,800 residents, was severely impacted by the hurricane which passed directly over the small island, resulting in one fatality. The Prime Minister, Gaston Browne said 90 per cent of homes were destroyed.

Barbuda’s hotel infrastructure was also damaged, but with less than 100 hotel rooms the overall effect on tourism as a whole is minimal. With Hurricane Jose threatening, the prime minister issued a mandatory evacuation order for Barbuda on Friday 8 September.

Anguilla

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency is reporting the airport runway and most roads leading to the airport have been cleared of debris. The agency is also reporting that 90 percent of government buildings and business structures were damaged as well as 90 percent of the electricity infrastructure.

Bahamas

The all clear has been given for Nassau, New Providence the most populous island, and popular destination within the country. The all clear for the central and Southeastern Bahamas was issued earlier today. At this time only Grand Bahama, Bimini, and Andros remain under a hurricane warning as Hurricane Irma moves away from the islands-nation. The Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau sustained no damage from Hurricane Irma and was due to resume operations on Sunday, 10 September at 5:00 a.m.

Cruise ports of entry throughout The Bahamas will also be assessed for clearance to re-open. Cruise reservation holders should check directly with their cruise providers for updates on departures and itineraries.

British Virgin Islands

The destruction caused by Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands has been devastating, according to a statement from Sharon Flax-Brutus, the Director of Tourism. The destination has lost entire structures and many homes are without roofs, or have been diminished to merely foundations. The Government has begun to coordinate humanitarian relief efforts and an initial clean-up operation.

Cuba

Thousands of tourists were evacuated from low-lying cays off the coast. Extensive flood and wind damage.

Dominican Republic

Punta Cana International Airport has resumed normal operations following the passage of Hurricane Irma after the storm passed off Punta Cana’s coast. The area’s hotel sector is reporting no major damage.

Haiti

Reports indicate that damage and flooding is minor in Haiti but warnings for possible flooding are still in effect. Encouragingly, the travel retail industry-funded Lycée Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable school in Saint Marc, Haiti (built to be hurricane-proof) has been unaffected by Irma.

Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) is reporting that major tourism infrastructure and attractions are operational and the island can continue to welcome new visitors. The PRTC said while there have been power outages, many hotels, as well as essential services such as hospitals, have generators and are operational.

The majority of hotels throughout mainland Puerto Rico are ready to welcome new guests. Flights to and from Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport have resumed. Puerto Rico’s port is operational and should be receiving cruises.

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts & Nevis sustained minimal damage overall and both St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport and Nevis’ Vance W. Amory International Airport have reopened.

St. Barthelemy

It has been reported that St. Barth’s was heavily impacted by Hurricane Irma which destroyed government buildings and badly damaged private homes and resorts including the Eden Rock Hotel. There is flooding throughout the destination. The French government is sending people and supplies to the country to assist with recovery efforts.

St. Maarten (Dutch) / St. Martin (French)

The recovery effort continues. Director of tourism for Dutch St. Maarten Rolando Brison is reporting that Sun Wing has evacuated some visitors to Montreal, Canada, while other guests have also been evacuated. The Princess Juliana International Airport has been receiving flights that are bringing in relief supplies, and evacuating guests. No passengers, including media, are being allowed in at the moment due to a shortage of staff to man the airport. However, the airport has been closed, pending the passage of Hurricane Jose, which is now projected to pass away from the Franco-Dutch island. In a best-case scenario, he said, the airport can reopen on Sunday 10 September for the resumption of relief flights.

St. Eustatius

A few roofs lost, some downed trees, but the island suffered minimal damage by Hurricane Irma. The airport and seaport are both operational, and telephone, internet, electricity and water are also back up.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Governor Dr. John Freeman and Premier Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson given the all-clear. They have said in a joint statement that assessment of the damage is continuing. The director of Tourism Ramon Andrews reported that Turks and Caicos Islands experienced flooding, some structural damage, roofs that have been blown off, downed trees, no loss of life and all visitors are safe. Many roads have been flooded and power lines and transformers are down, according to the emergency management agency. Providenciales International Airport (PLS) is currently closed.

United States Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas)

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has advised that full assessment on the impact of Hurricane Irma is under way and while St. Croix is getting back to business, visitors are being encouraged not to visit St. Thomas and St. John. There is significant damage to infrastructure in St. Thomas and St. John, and the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas will not be open for commercial traffic before Jose passes the area this weekend.

To ensure everyone’s safety, the postponement of all scheduled visits to St. Thomas and St. John is being recommended. The storm has resulted in four casualties to date on the island of St. Thomas.

HOW TO STAY INFORMED AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP

The CTO and CHTA will continue to share updates from member countries in the CTO Storm Watch Centre on http://www.onecaribbean.org/cto-storm-watch-centre/ as well as on CHTA’s website http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/knowledge-center/hurricane-center/.

CTO has activated its CTO Relief Fund through GoFundMe to help families and countries rebuild after hurricanes, with monies raided being sent directly to CTO-member destinations affected by the catastrophic storm. For more information on CTO’s Relief Fund or to make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/hurricane-relief-fund-cto.

20.00 “Stay safe:” As severe flooding hits Miami’s financial district, Miami International Airport remains closed, as it has been since Saturday. The airport continues to update travellers via its Twitter feed. In the latest information posted a few minutes ago, the airport said: “Way too soon to know about resumption of operations. Storm still upon us. Info as available. Stay safe.”

Miami International Airport and American Airlines offer assistance, including pillows, blankets and food, to stranded passengers (Photo: Miami Airport)

16.45

Eye of the storm: How Irma is making its way through Florida on Sunday morning US time, with storm Jose following behind (Source: National Hurricane Center)

16.00 (11am in Florida) An update from Travel Markets Insider Owner and Editor Lois Pasternak on the latest conditions: “Not too bad but a band is coming through. The storm is still 100 miles away. We are sitting in a protected porch and the wind is coming from behind us so we are in no danger.”

Meanwhile, the US National Weather Service confirms that all of southern Florida is at risk of tornados.

15.45 Mainland Florida is braced for the worst of the storm as it moves north from the Florida keys, with winds of up to 130mph (209km/h). High winds and storm surges are affecting the Miami area, adn Governor Rick Scott has said he is “very concerned” about the impact on the west coast.

07.35: It’s started. Hurricane Irma is hitting Florida. The CNN.com image and headline says it all.

SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

23.43: This image (right) just in from Dufry Senior Vice President and Director – Human Resources Marcus Griffin shows the ferocity of what is coming.

From Travel Markets Insider Owner and Editor Lois Pasternak: “We are hunkered down and waiting. We moved inland a few miles from the coast.”

Below are further updates from Marcus Griffin, holding fort with his family at Bonaventura Resort in Fort Lauderdale for safety:

11.25: Marcus sends us a shot of the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s front page. “Wherever you are in South Florida, it’s going to be a long haul,” says the story.

11.17: Senator Marco Rubio: “Let’s keep in mind our first responders who will be putting their lives on the line for us and they have families too. They are in our prayers.”

10.58: “Got to safety. The Broward Mayor says, ‘We will have a 4pm curfew as we are expecting 100mph winds in Broward county.’ Expecting 10-12 in of rain, according to Broward Mayor Barbara Sharief. 2pm tropical storm winds expected. Will last through until 4pm tomorrow. Wind, rain and flooding expected for 24 hours.”

09.39: “Just now, Rick Scott, Governor of Florida: ‘This is a deadly storm & we have never seen the likes of this before.’ 5.6 million Floridian have been asked to evacuate. ‘Protecting life is our top priority,’ says the Governor.”

09.34: “Yesterday in my neighbourhood, we were all helping each other out secure properties; if people had a pool then we placed all the patio and garden furniture there. They say this could last around 12 hours with about 12in of rain. People have been great and a real sense  of community is very evident.”

09.18: “The main concern now Martin is our team members and their families as well as all our friends in travel retail.

“All shelters are now full; the worst of the storm will start to hit Broward and Miami Dade around 3pm. MIA and FLL [Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports] are now closed. Irma seems to be moving west, however South Florida is still very much in the storm cone area.

“Sheriff Scott Israel of Broward County and his Fire & Police service will keep doing patrols until the wind speed reaches 45mph. Power outages have started already.”

02.15 Florida time and all over the State, people are hunkering down in the hope of withstanding the brutality of Hurricane Irma. The force 5 Hurricane is due to approach the Florida Keys and South Florida by early Sunday. Some 5.6 million people in the state have been ordered to evacuate, though many have either defied orders or been unable to move.

This image from the National Hurricane Centre shows Irma blasting through Cuba and the Bahamas at 2am Eastern Daylight Time. Next stop Florida.

On Friday, Irma crashed full throttle into northern Cuba, bringing winds of 160mph as it hit Camaguey Archipelago. Early reports suggest widespread damage. At least 24 people have been killed across various Caribbean islands, some of which lay in near complete ruins. As reported, the long-term damage to the region’s crucial tourism sector is profound.

As Cuba feels the terrible impact of Irma, Florida lies next in its path. Governor Rick Scott said via local and national media on Friday night, “If you have been ordered to evacuate, leave now. Not tonight, not in an hour, now.”

Storm surges could reach as high as 12 feet, he said.

Florida is a leading base for the travel retail community. Not only does it serve the vital Caribbean cruise business but Miami is the regional headquarters for many distributors, subsidiaries, agents and retailers. We’ll bring you their stories as we can.

Doug Andrews (pictured right), Sales Manager, International Luxury Consumer Goods for Movado Group, reports: “I’m in East Naples, just about the middle of expected landfall.”

The pictures below (taken Friday night Florida time) come from Dufry Senior Vice President and Director – Human Resources Marcus Griffin, who says, “Here is a photo of my friend Royston Brady, former Lord Mayor of Dublin, at his hotel, he is the GM there at the Bonaventura Country Club.
“They have set up the ball room for FPL employees (that’s the light and electric company in Florida). We are only hours away now.”
 
Orla Griffin with Royston & Michelle Brady at the shelter Royston has created at the Bonaventura Country Club, where he is General Manager

From DFASS Group Deputy Chairman John Garner (via Facebook) and his wife: “Our flight got cancelled by Virgin America. So we are staying here (see below). Good luck and safety to all. J and K.”

From two of travel retail’s most popular executives, husband and wife Mark Mariani and Carolyn Kretchman Mariani (via Facebook): “Just got to our room at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando. It’s a huge property and very nice. Tons of people and tons of dogs! No traffic. We got here in 3 hours, which is normal. Now we wait and look forward seeing our family and friends as soon as we can get back home!!”

From my friend (and friend of many), Lois Pasternak, owner of Travel Markets Insider (via Facebook), some updates over the past couple of days:

7 September: “Just to let family know, all flights out are booked. This means we cannot get out.

8 September: “Finally was able to download a zone map showing the evacuation area. The house I am going to is not near any of the evacuation zones and even my place near the intracoastal just misses a zone — but is still too close for comfort.

Lois is still managing to produce superb regional updates on the damage to the tourism and travel retail sectors. Click here for an important regional update from Travel Markets Insider.

FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

CARIBBEAN/USA. Travel sector infrastructure in the Caribbean has been badly damaged and in many cases devastated by Hurricane Irma, which is currently bearing down on Florida in the USA.

“It has become more likely that Irma will make landfall in southern Florida as a dangerous major hurricane, and bring life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts to much of the state,” the National Hurricane Center said yesterday.

“Keep us in your prayers, this does not look good” – Florida-based Dufry Senior Vice President and Director – Human Resources Marcus Griffin

Irma, a rare Category 5 storm carrying winds nearing 180mph, has ripped through northeastern Caribbean islands, leaving devastation in its wake. At least 14 deaths have been reported in the Turks and Caicos Islands while Barbuda, where over 90% of buildings have been damaged, is reported to be barely habitable. The US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, St Barts and Anguilla have all been ravaged. Quoting a resident, the BBC said Anguilla looked as if it had been struck by a nuclear bomb.

The famous Princess Juliana International Airport on St. Maarten (the Dutch side of St. Martin) has suffered terrible damage.

Specialist weather media LiveStormChasers.com’s graphic before and after pictures of Princess Juliana International Airport capture the devastation Hurricane Irma has wreaked
The National Hurricane Center in the US underlines the harrowing power of Irma

Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Haiti have also been badly affected by high winds and rain, prompting fears of mudslides to follow. Encouragingly, the travel retail industry-funded Lycée Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable school in Saint Marc, Haiti (built to be hurricane-proof) has been unaffected by Irma , we can confirm.

“Following the Biblical flooding along the Gulf Coast of Texas last week, parts of the Americas are facing a monster category 5 storm that could impact many travel retail markets in the months to come” – Lois Pasternak, Travel Markets Insider

The loss of lives and catastrophic damage to infrastructure is bad enough but much of the Caribbean is also set for a prolonged downturn in the vital tourism industry. Now large chunks of southern USA are set to take the full brunt of a hurricane as terrifying as any in living memory.

“Keep us in your prayers, this does not look good, will try and keep you updated with events,” Miami-based Dufry Senior Vice President and Director – Human Resources Marcus Griffin told The Moodie Davitt Report last night.

Lois Pasternak, the Florida-based owner of Travel Markets Insider, which has an informal information-sharing partnership with The Moodie Davitt Report, last night published a gripping account of the damage incurred throughout the Caribbean. She wrote: “This week, 25 years after Miami suffered a direct hit from the devastation of Hurricane Andrew, South Florida—and the entire state—is frantically preparing for an even bigger and stronger storm that has already flattened parts of the Caribbean. Hurricane Irma—like Andrew before it – could have a serious impact on travel and the travel retail business in the region.

“Following the Biblical flooding along the Gulf Coast of Texas last week, parts of the Americas are facing a monster category 5 storm that could impact many travel retail markets in the months to come.

“Hurricane Irma… has decimated some of the key tourist islands in the Caribbean and is now barrelling directly towards South Florida, a logistics centre for the industry and home for some of the most important companies throughout the Americas.”

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