Hurricane Tomas Hits St Lucia

The shock felt when I found out about the damage Hurricane Tomas had caused in St Lucia caused me to shake; my stomach flipped and felt awfully sick. I had seen nothing in the news, it was difficult to comprehend that 14 people had been killed and large parts of the island trashed on October 30; just one week after we left to return home.

The force 2 hurricane battered the islands with strong winds, however, it was the rain and subsequent water that did most of the damage, causing numerous mud slides and destruction of roads, houses, resorts and businesses. The island was without fresh water and electricity for days; staff unable to leave resorts to find out how their families were.

My contacts tell me that Soufrière was the worst hit, a coastal town, it was flooded with water as the deluge spread from the mountains and out to sea.

The couple we had met from Livity Art Studio had been swept 600-feet down a mountain side inside their home; with their two children. The pretty picture we bought from them hangs on my living room wall and I will never forget Sabby and his wife, who we sat with conversing and sharing food upon one visit. It is so upsetting knowing how they have left this earth.




(Part of the Livity Art Studio, with beautiful local artists' paintings)

Many of the places we visited while in St Lucia have now disappeared or are almost beyond repair; like the 'Drive in Volcanoe', Diamond Botanical Gardens, Sulphur Springs and Waterfall.

To catch just a little glimpse of what the result of a category 2 hurricane is, look at some of the videos featuring Soufriere on YouTube, for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PSCOkL9kRk

If you are generous enough to donate, make sure your money goes to the right place, there were already a lot of desperate people there before the hurricane. Contact an official charity such as the St Lucian Red Cross.

Life is just so precious.