Update: The US Virgin Islands Work to Repair Hurricane Damage

1.    What are 3 things you’d  lose if you lived in the US Virgin Islands?
2.    Name 2 groups who are helping families or schools.
3.    What could you do to help children in the US Virgin Islands?
Answers are at the end of this post

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Sept. 6th Irma hit the US Virgin Islands. Nine days later Maria made landfall on Sept. 22nd. Today is Oct. 20th. It’s 45 days later, and there’s still so much damage left to repair.

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​Can you imagine surviving Irma, then Maria, and returning home to this? That’s what happened to people who live on St. Thomas, St. Johns, St. Croix, and the minor islands that make up the US Virgin Islands. I can’t imagine living like this for a month-and-a-half with your home open to the elements. Water’s leaking or blowing inside. YUCK!

​You’ve also lived with a boil-water advisory for 45 days. If you don’t have bottled water, you boil or add a few drops of bleach every time before you drink or brush your teeth. What a pain! YUCK!

October temperatures average about 86F with high heat and humidity. You’re on an island so you can go to the beach. Except, no swimming. Bacteria in the water could make you sick. 

​Here’s a tiny bit of good news: the water system is now 90 % restored, and there’s 4-9 days of emergency water.  

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With high heat and humidity, you miss air conditioning. It doesn’t work without power/electricity, which you lost 45 days ago. That means no AC, lights, running water, or toilets.
 
If you’re lucky, you have a generator. But it only works with a tankful of gas or diesel fuel. Gas and diesel are in short supply, like everything else. They must be shipped in, then delivered or picked up. Roads are damaged, like everything else in the US Virgin Islands.

Little by little the power’s coming back on. By Christmas 90% of the electricity will be restored. That’s still 64 days away. I hope things go faster than expected.
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Worst of all, if you live on the US Virgin Islands, you might feel forgotten. People talk about Puerto Rico, and not you. But it’s not true! There are people who want to help.

Adopt a Family, USVI is one of the  groups trying to help. They’re behind these packages that were delivered to the US Virgin Islands. Can you imagine how great you’d feel if one arrived on your doorstep?
 
Adopt a Family matches a supporter with a family in need. It’s a wonderful way to help families living without power, hospitals, or running water. Life doesn’t feel safe anymore. Sending a book or a t-shirt means the world to parents and children who’ve lived through a hurricane.  

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This is a picture from their Facebook page. You can also visit their website at: http://www.adoptafamilyusvi.com/.    I hope you’ll check them out!

​Homes got hit, and so did schools. The first picture is a pair of twins from the Lowcountry of South Carolina. These 4th grade girls spearheaded a drive in early October that brought in about 1,000 books. If my classroom was destroyed, I’d be grateful for their help.
 
The second picture is from adoptafamilyusvi.com. They came up with the idea to adopt a classroom. The need is still great. I just read a post today that showed a building like the one in my first picture. It read “This is not an old picture.” That post was 4 hours old.
 
If buildings look like this, so do schools. Some were condemned while other were severely damaged. So, Adopt A Family decided to sponsor Adopt A Classroom, USVI to help classrooms in need. I checked them out and signed up. I should hear early in November who I get to help. I can’t wait!

Here’s the basic supply list. There are so many things that I, as a retired teacher, can buy, and I get to help 1st/2nd graders.  I’m so excited! I'm ready to start shopping!
 
There’s also an adoption  form/contract. It says:
 1.    We’re committing to adopt (1) classroom in the USVI for three consecutive months.
2.    By adopting a classroom we are committing to sending enough supplies for a classroom of 15-35 students for three consecutive months.
3.    I understand Adopt A Classroom, USVI suggests we send (4) Large Flat Rate USPS priority boxes per month OR the equivalent.
4.    A pen pal relationship is highly probable however we ask you to please send a return envelope and stamps.
5.    I understand that our preferred adoption grade is NOT guaranteed.
6.    I understand our primary resourced for questions/concerns is:
                                   http://tinyurl.com/launchclassroom

I hope you'll consider adopting either a family or a classroom. For parents, teachers, and schools, this is a great opportunity to help others, and maybe, to find a pen pal from another culture. Just think how many children you can help, when you help one classroom.

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Facebook Sources:
1.    Adopt A Family USVI
2.    Adopt A Classroom USVI

Link:
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/20/559026813/st-john-could-get-electricity-turned-back-on-6-weeks-after-hurricane-irma

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Update: The US Virgin Islands Work to Repair Hurricane Damage​    
1.    What are 3 things you’d  lose after the hurricane?
Possible answers: drinking or running water, electricity, air conditioning, toilets, swimming at the beach
2.    Name 2 groups who are helping families or schools.
Adopt A Family USVI
Adopt A School USVI
3.    What could you do to help children in the US Virgin Islands?
Talk to your parents or teachers. Show them this post. Decide together how you’d like to help.

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