Billionaire Virgin founder Richard Branson shared devastating videos and photos on Twitter this week from the private island that he owns in the British Virgin Islands.
.@virginunite coordinating aid to local BVI families & communities affected by Hurricane #Irma.Please donate to help https://t.co/0USuxvk1dS pic.twitter.com/31gSkWwiZh
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) September 11, 2017
Necker damage huge, but BVI #Irma story is not about Necker – about 1000s of people who’ve lost homes & livelihoods https://t.co/0USuxvk1dS pic.twitter.com/BaUpvJ22pv
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) September 10, 2017
Challenge in #BVI after #Irma is unique – and needs unprecedented support to get the country functioning again https://t.co/gAvDKI6MDU pic.twitter.com/dwEGAMHCZb
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) September 11, 2017
It is truly heart-breaking to see such devastation in a place we call home & to communities we love dearly https://t.co/N5eLFauUO5 pic.twitter.com/Lb89vdQreg
— Holly Branson (@HollyBranson) September 12, 2017
“As you can see from the photos, much of the buildings and vegetation on Necker has been destroyed or badly damaged,” Branson wrote in a statement on Virgin’s website. “We felt the full force of the strongest hurricane ever in the Atlantic Ocean. But we are very fortunate to have a strong cellar built into Necker’s Great House and were very lucky all of our teams who stayed on Island during the storm are safe and well.”
Branson went on to share details about the tens of thousands of people who lost their homes and livelihoods in the storm, which has killed at least 22 people in the Caribbean, according to the Associated Press.
“Over the coming weeks, we’ll have to assess exactly what is needed. It is clear to me creating jobs is paramount – there will be a huge amount of rebuilding to be done and people will need work to help rebuild their lives as well as their homes,” Branson wrote. He also noted that he is working with the British Red Cross and bringing in supplies through Virgin Atlantic; Virgin Unite, Branson’s foundation, will also work with United BVI and Virgin Limited Edition to support communities in the area.
“We will support the mid to long term efforts on the ground and help provide support as those affected recover from the disaster,” Branson wrote. “Please donate what you can.”
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