Lions, Leos and supporters conducting a clean-up exercise at Elmore Stoutt High School, which was hard hit by the flash floods on August 7, 2017. Photo: Facebook

Some members of the Rotary clubs of the Virgin Islands pose for a photograph following a press conference today, August 11, 2017. Third from right is President of the Rotary Club of Tortola, Karia J. Christopher. Third from left is First Lady and Rotary member Mrs Lorna G. Smith OBE. Photo: VINO

A flooded classroom at Elmore Stoutt High School. Photo: Facebook

Clean-up exercise at Elmore stoutt High School. Photo: Facebook

“All hands-on-deck,” said President of Rotary Club of Tortola Mrs Karia J. Christopher and Past President Mrs Lorna G. Smith OBE at a press conference called earlier today, August 11, 2017 by the Rotary clubs of the Virgin Islands.

In the words of Mrs Lorna G. Smith, when it’s not raining Road Town looks like a dust bowl and when it’s raining it looks like a mud pool. Cognizant of this, the clean-up effort is important to all.

As revealed by the panel, the rotary family, friends of rotary and other community minded persons kicked into gear immediately following the floods, assisting in ways more than one by being active in Joe’s Hill, the Elmore Stoutt High School among other places.

The clean-up activities continue today and tomorrow.

Power washing service

According to Mrs Christopher, the Rotary clubs of the VI have collaborated and are in possession of a pool of power washers. Persons in need of their service could call 343-7139.

“The quicker we get back to normal the better,” stressed Mrs Smith, “And we will get back to normal with as many hands on deck as possible. So we know what the areas are, where we are going to be concentrating on, we know that we are going to be doing the parking lots, tomorrow (Saturday) starting at 7:00 AM if not earlier with the help of our St Thomas colleagues and whoever else.”

“And please, this is not a Rotary or a Red Cross or an FSN event, this is a BVI event. The flood fell on the BVI. All of us have been impacted and we like to see ourselves, in fact we are a very resilient community and our resilience will be shown with the speed with which we could get back up to normal and it’s going to call for all of the BVI to come out and do what needs to be done,” Mrs Smith stated.

Donation bins

In addition, The BVI Red Cross has appealed for mattresses and other essentials for families most in need. Additionally, all the super markets across the territory has granted permission for the placement of bins at their places of business for the community to drop in donations of dry goods and food including the most needed items like diapers, sanitary care products, linens, cleaning agents among others. The bins will be in place starting tomorrow morning, August 12, 2017.

On the other hand, with countless hours already invested in the clean-up and restoration drive at the Elmore Stoutt High School, the situation there has been described as “much improved” but lots more needs to be done.