Hurricane Repairs Update

We understand now that supplies have made it to the island. Lumber, hardware and electrical components are in good supply. Many places have now been hooked up to electricity but within a structure there may be rooms that still need repairs done to restore the electricity in that section. The main issue is labor- there just isn't the workforce to tackle the overwhelming amount of restoration and repairs needed. Some people are flying in their own carpenters, and other trades people. Our guess is there may be people willing to come in from say Europe that have the proper papers but may not have places to live, even temporarily. We understand some of the hotels and Villa owners may be letting people stay there at no or minimal cost. Many of the 'locals' have lost virtually everything and are going thru both tough emotional times as well as physical. As commented on in another thread, we understand that since France declared the island a disaster area, the French insurance companies are automatically backed up by the French government in the event all claims can not be paid. One major hurdle though is the insurance 'assessors' haven't been able to visit many of the damaged areas and repairs can not be started until the insurance people have approved the work needed to be done. Many people are ready to make repairs but can't unless they are willing to forego the insurance. We see the vegetation is growing back quickly but that will not help those in need.

Hop, are you currently on the island?

No Tim- we talk a lot with people who own Villas on the island and they give us updates. One of our friends is a lawyer and also was head of the St. Barth International Property Owners Association a while back. They are conversing almost daily both by phone and email with various people on the island. Sometimes it feels like we are there though. Things will all be good with time tourist wise but it is the local people- those that make the island what it is that are depressed with what has happened to them and their belongings. It is important that places like Francois Plantation (Villa Marie restaurant) will be up and running in December but we in the Forum don't talk much about the people who make it happen. After all the Forum is about photographs of good meals, visiting beaches and sunsets not the 'bad news' and the work behind the scenes that is needed to make the island what it is. We all see and hear enough of that in our news feeds and social media posts. The Forum is a place to escape a little which is what makes it popular. We can't wait to start seeing Amy and Phil's daily posts of their meals, great trip reports and photos of beautiful sunsets which will soon begin appearing once again.