The "Sadness And Concern For The People Of SXM: Part II - The Power Of The Visual Image" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Searching the multitude of images I have saved that show the magnitude of destruction that hurricane Irma has unleashed on the island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  Yesterday I posted comments that filled the websites of Facebook and TravelTalkOnline (TTOL) during the past few days.  The power of the written word is remarkable, but the intensity of emotions released by a visual image is unbelievable.  Therefore, I'm sure the photographs, as well as videos, that follow will release a variety of emotions in you as they did in me.  Can you imagine living on an island paradise in the middle of an ocean and having that paradise destroyed within a matter of hours.  That's just about how it happened on the island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  As one person said, "The place looks like the apocalypse."  75% of the houses were blown away by the Category 5 hurricane Irma.  What do you do next?  Do you give up?  Do you make every effort to regain that paradise you once had?  I'm hoping the majority of islanders who live on my favorite island will choose the latter.  Only time will tell .... plenty of time!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

Mecure Hotel in Nettle Bay

Sint Maarten

Destroyed palm trees outside the Mercure Hotel on Nettle Bay

Damaged cars stranded on a beach in Marigot

The Dutch side of the island

Another view of the Hotel Mecure 

Woman stands near damaged homes in Marigot 

Debris and damaged buildings in Marigot

Boats lie wrecked ashore in Marigot near Nettle Bay

Orient Village on the French side of the island

Cars sit piled on top of one another in Marigot

Smoke rises from a fire near debris and damaged buildings in Marigot

Outside Mecure Hotel near Nettle Bay

French capital of Marigot

Main street in Grand Case

Grand Case

Grand Case

Club Orient on Orient Beach

Downtown Philipsburg, capital of Dutch side

Dutch side of island

French side of island

Marigot

Marigot 

Orient Bay 

Philipsburg