Wiltshire-based charity volunteers help those affected by Hurricane Irma

Volunteers have been helping at the Virgin Gorda island since Monday. Credit: Serve On

A charity from Wiltshire that provides search and rescue services in areas hit by natural disasters, has dispatched a team to help those affected by Hurricane Irma.

Five Serve On member and two members of Team Rubicon, have been in the hurricane-hit Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands since Monday, 11 September.

They are also receiving logistical support from their fellow volunteers based in Wiltshire.

Some of tasks the team on ground have carried out include:

  • A full assessment of the needs of displaced and injured islanders in the shelters and clinics.

  • Assessment the state of the island’s water desalination plants.

  • Provided thousands of litres of purified drinking water to residents.

  • Provided a communications hub for the island’s Recovery Base Team

An island native and nurse, Rosalind Daisy worked at the clinic for Virgin Gorda’s North Sound community, which was almost completely obliterated by Hurricane Irma.

She is described to have "cowered in fear" as the hurricane inflicted its devastating power on the island.

The island has a population of just over 3,900. Credit: Serve On

Following the storm, nurse Daisy treated no fewer than 40 patients from the small community, with no power and no lights in the clinic.

Local people queueing for water as Andy, a Serve On volunteer shares out of the 200 litres available. Credit: Serve On

Serve On International Response Team member, Tom Hales and Team Rubicon’s Lizzy Stileman were on hand to assist with a delivery of aid from Puerto Rico, where they met Sir Richard Branson who was also on site during the aid delivery.

Serve On volunteers helping with the damage caused by the category 4 hurricane. Credit: Serve On

Garry Wonnacott and Martin Phillips, also from Serve On, alerted authorities to the damaged roof of the island’s main 450,000-gallon water storage tower, which was left open and unprotected.

Serve On's Craig Elsdon manning the ops room ahead of organising a local co-ordination team. Credit: Serve On

Also among the Serve On's volunteers is Clare Gollop, 37, who is from Exeter and works by day with Devon and Cornwall Police.

With help from Team Rubicon UK, she works from the Wiltshire-based operations room, making sure their team on location in the Caribbean remain safe.

Becky Elsdon's fiancé, Craig, was sent to the islands with the team on Wednesday, given just a few hours notice.

She says to her, the role of the operations team is truly important.

Serve On and Rubicon volunteers are currently at the British Virgin Island of Gorda. Credit: Serve On
Thousands of homes were destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Credit: Serve On

The volunteers aim to continue their work on the island and in the UK.