Hurricane Irma is the strongest storm ever recorded on the Atlantic. It has left a path of destruction, reducing communities to rubble, cutting off access to food and medical supplies, with a climbing death toll. Winds have been reported at 185 miles per hour and caused catastrophic damage in Barbuda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands and severe damage in the United States and other parts of the Caribbean.
Relief efforts will continue for months as some areas have been reduced to rubble – hospitals, schools and homes will need rebuilding and with roadways washed out, emergency food and medical services will need to continue to be flown in. Canadian charities are on the ground providing essentials such as food and clean water, shelter and medical services to those already affected by the disaster.