First, everyone is safe!
Second, there are lots of untrue rumors going around equating St. Barth’s damages to other islands, so please ask reliable sources.
Third, thank you for sending your best wishes to us and to all of St. Barth.
As many of you know, Category 5 Hurricane Irma’s forceful winds and rain arrived during the wee hours on Wednesday September 06, 2017 and the eye went directly over St. Barth around 7:00 am. The first photos showed flooded streets in Gustavia and many cars flipped around by the force of the wind. Both my real estate and rental offices on the harbor showed water coming up to the shuttered windows. The water receded and later photos showed that they had both survived. Much of the damage exhibited debris with downed power lines and trees clogging the streets. Some roofs were damaged. The beaches were hit but look much better each day. The various hotels are assessing their damage.
Each hour showed improvement over the one before it. The airport reopened and by Friday evening, power was restored to parts of Gustavia and the roads were cleared. Fast forward to only two days later and Category 4 Hurricane Jose was to pay the island an unwelcome visit. (What are the chances of that happening?) and, luckily, stood us up; it passed to the north. Here is how some people celebrated with music!
The people of St. Barth are so resilient and showed tremendous solidarity towards each other and their beloved island, so they immediately started the cleanup. Fortunately, St. Barth has strict building codes, so most structures remain intact. Rain from Jose proved to be beneficial with the plant life.
It is too early to give you an update on our villas and hotels; rest assured, we are checking on every single one and will keep you informed. In addition to coming to St. Barth, for those who want to contribute the recovery financially, please donate directly to the island with a wire to the Trésorerie de Saint Barthélemy (The Treasury) so that you know that 100% of your contribution goes directly to St. Barth.
For updates on the progress, please see our website- What’s Trending on our home page and visit it often.
Sentiments from some of our clientele:
Hello There. Thoughts and prayers went to you all. Your properties and business and that little island I have grown to love so much. I could not go this year and last…Rest assured we will return this year to show our support will be there. Janice
If ANYONE has any hesitations about this island and its ability to recover after a hurricane, I would be happy to talk with them. My wife and I were on the island for Lenny and said that if anyone is hesitating about their trip in November, they should not. Bob
Please let everyone on St. Barth’s know that Joan and I are thinking of them and praying for them. Mother Nature is tough, but Island Folk are just as tough. All the best, to everyone there,
Rudy and Joan
Hi Peg- I know how devastated Ian & I are about what is happening in St. Barth, which makes me think of all those who have ties to the island. Knowing that you have family, a business & that your heart is there, I wanted to reach out and let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers! Jack ❤️
Thanks for the update Peg. No need to thank me. I consider the St Barth Properties team family and thanks to you, the island has become part of me! Fond thoughts and prayers, Mike
We don’t leave until November, so praying for the folks on the island and that they’ll have their infrastructure back in place by then so we can go. I’ll try to go even if I have to swim there!!! Jim
What Can You Do to Help?
Solène Leprezon, the owner of St. Barth Kid’s Concierge and VIP Protect Event, lived through Irma and wrote a wonderful post on Facebook. Here are some quotes:
“For our lovers of St Barth who ask us what they can do to help us. Book in advance this year, show us that you don’t let us down, make a deposit as soon as possible so that we, the economic and business actors of st Barthélemy regain confidence and have the cash to welcome you in the best Conditions as soon as possible.
For the moment, not much to do aside from making donations to associations on the island that will help people… It’s afterwards that we may need you a little bit more, that you help us get back the island’s economy, this season, you come back to see us! Come to see the work we all have done to welcome you again and show you that the spirit of St. Barth that you have known for years is still present. We will need you to enjoy our great wines in your favorite restaurants, discover new places to stay if your favorite villa or hotel has not yet had time to make itself a beauty, that you make bookings for the services of the independents on the island that live here all year long and often, for a very long time and which, for many of us, will have lost a lot: Caretakers, event organizers, villa managers, maids, pool men and gardeners, private chefs and caterers, babysitters, taxi drivers, safety officers, swimming instructors, tennis, and water sports and all types, leisure activities such as masseuses. We will also need you to continue shopping for fashion designer goods and local brand shops, as well as luxury boutiques, visit the small shops you don’t know… we will have to rediscover St. Barth! All those who are going to be able to stay and anyone who will be able to come back soon, we will do everything to make your next stay exceptional because it is especially thanks to you, in love with the island of St. Barthélemy, who come to enjoy everything you love here for a few days or weeks during your holidays that those who live here during the year will be able to make every effort to make St Barth a little paradise on earth.”
That I can take time to prepare with my team the most beautiful treasure hunts and schedules of activities so that your children will also enjoy discovering or rediscovering St Barth, organizing for them the most beautiful birthday parties or even days just for fun with children from the island or others on holiday…I hope that very soon it will be a bad memory! Be strong for tomorrow and the days that will follow!”
And of course, donate.
This is how I feel (click on the volume icon at the lower right to hear the song).
And this will be what it will look like in no time. It may give you goose bumps:
7 comments
Please keep on sending news. We have been vacation in St. Barths for over 30 years. Stayed at Filao until it was destroyed. Then at Emaruade Plage. I hope everyone is well. We look forward to our annual visit next year.
Hi Charlie, Thank you for loving St. Barth as much as I do! I’ll do my best to update the progress. After 30 years, you know how strong the people of St. Barth are and how quickly they can recover. I hope to see you on the island when your next visit. My best to you, Peg
Hi Peg
Thanks so much for the update.
So glad to know things are not as bad
as we see on the news about other islands.
We look forward to our return trip in January / February.
Bill & Karen
Hi Karen and Bill, Thank you so much for your support. Every day shows more and more progress. We are grateful that Maria passed to the south but, of course, very sad for Puerto Rico and wish them well in their recovery. Stay tuned for more news about St. Barth. – My best to you – Peg
So glad to hear all is not lost on the most beautiful island!
Hi Janet,
It is so nice to hear from you! Thank you for following the news of our very special little island. I hope that you can get back there one day. All the best to you, Peg
Once making a new kitchen or renovating an existing
kitchen, it is highly recommended and highly recommended to keep an open mind and find out everything possible –
by the end of the process, it will definitely pay off.
Here are some common myths about the design process and its particular results:
“You may easily add later” -the best planning is to take into account
and add all the characteristics of the kitchen at
the planning and as well as or renewal stages, and not at a
later stage. For example, in case you are not
thinking about putting in a flat screen TV SET in the kitchen space or if you do not currently have a water dispenser, the best thing is to put together
for future installation of these also to plan power, communication and water factors and
keep the alternatives open up. Also, since the kitchen is supposed to
provide us for quite some time, it is a good idea to measure all existing ergonomic solutions such as drawer drawers, bathroom
drawer style dishwashers, and so forth Even if you are
young and fit at the moment, these additions will prove themselves
Mobility later on. Either way, if you prefer to deal with kitchen planning in stages –
one aspect or specific area at a time – be certain to plan carefully so that everything will fit in stylistic and functional harmony when the kitchen will finally be complete.
” I do not have so many things” – whether we like it or not, your kitchen has tremendous potential for ruining
due to multitude of items kept in it, which is why space is sufficient to store,
This means that there is a relative absence of overhead storage
cupboards, so it is important to balance function and
style.
“Bigger Better” – Your kitchen space is large and you need a huge kitchen, but
then you will find yourself going back and on from one machine to
another, and this situation, preferably in the look stages, consider
adding a job sink beside the refrigerator or Reduce the need to cross these
distances, and there is without doubt that these upgrades
mean additional costs, and if your budget is limited,
it is unquestionably well worth considering a compact kitchen.
“I do not desire a designer ” -not every
kitchen design project requires a designer, but many individuals need someone to help us see the overall picture and administer the work.
Renting consult with an architect or designer does involve quite a lot of cost, but
in the long run it is all about keeping money and time.
Even though you have a very clear picture of what you want,
do not save the expense of a designer as it can best fulfill ideal.
Proper and efficient planning of your kitchen and coordination between all the
many professionals engaged in building your kitchen by a designer could keep your project within their
as well as budget, save you unnecessary money and needless problems and
particularly keep your sanity.