Fajardo -­ The devastation caused by Hurricane Irma among the population of the British Virgin Islands was reason enough for boat owners at Puerto Del Rey Marina in Fajardo to join in the efforts to rescue and send supplies to the victims.

On Thursday, dozens of captains and sea transport companies who offer services in the Lesser Antilles immediately volunteered to be part of these endeavors. Many of them were already familiar with the Virgin Island, but there was nonetheless great shock when they saw first-hand--or heard about--the true extent of the damages.

The efforts were initiated by the Puerto Rican owner of Yacht Provisions, Natalia Rovira, who has friends in the islands and provides services to boats traveling to the port in Fajardo. The day after Irma passed close to Puerto Rico (last Thursday), a call was made for donations: food, clothes, and other basic necessities were needed in the islands, including Culebra. The response, however, was bigger than expected.

'I thought we would get 50 bags or something like that. I was going to fill up a few boats I had available. But it got out of hand. The amount of people arriving was unbelievable. The response of the people here and the huge amount of donations were astounding,' Rovira told us. She added that the company Allied Car Rental donated a truck to help in the efforts. Shortly after, the Marina lent a warehouse to store the donated items.

She explained that these efforts are supported by a coordination in communications between the British government, the authorities in the Virgin Islands, and the federal government in the US. To this end, they have already established protocols and logistics to accept ships into the islands and unload the wagons full of basic necessities.

In fact, Rovira announced that, starting on Monday, those who wish to help with the cause may bring their donations to any Pep Boys establishment until all needs are met.

According to the manager in Puerto Del Rey Marina, Carolina Coral, these efforts have also been joined by the Marina vendors, some hotels, such as the Verdanza Hotel in Isla Verde, the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, and the Condado Plaza Hilton, as well as the company Ferries del Caribe. These volunteers are using their boats to transport people who have been stranded in the islands, providing special lodging rates, and sending back supplies for the locals in the islands.

The tourist transportation company East Island Excursions also joined the efforts. Its owner, Iris González, provided her two catamaran boats on Friday to look for refugees, starting at Saint John island.

'We're bringing water, food, and diapers first--anything we can bring the first time around to get there. On the way back, we will bring people to Puerto Rico. Most of them are homeless, people who used to live there. I don't know what they're going to do. And there are also tourists who are trying to get back home,' González explained.

She said that the challenges they are facing include security issues in the islands, which is why they have personnel specifically assigned to help out in this area. The lack of food, power, gas, and ice has been a decisive factor, giving rise to reported cases of looting and theft, mostly fueled by despair.

'There are people diving into the water to get on the boats, so we have to be very careful. But we're trying to do everything we can in an orderly fashion to keep everyone safe,' she remarked.

Up until Sunday, González had transported more than 300 people from St. John, free of cost and giving priority to those who are most in need. However, uncertainty reigns among the passengers who are local to those islands, and they wonder if they will be able to return and rebuild, or if they should just accept their loss.

'Many people said their homes were a total loss. Now they're here, making plans. They told me that they intend to stay here at least a month. When things calm down, then they will return and see what can be done. Otherwise, many said they could end up staying here with us in Puerto Rico, or head out to the United States. Basically, they're waiting out on Irma to see where her path leads so they can know exactly where they can go. But yes, many of them don't know what to do,' she pointed out.

The situation is even more dismal in Tortola, according to the captain of the ship Tortuga, from the company Caribe Bliss. The manager, Darleen Santigo, said that so far they had transported 16 children and their mothers to Puerto Rico, where they were set up at El San Juan Hotel. Fathers stayed behind in the islands because there was not enough room to board them too.

Kenneth Almeida operates this ship, and he was was among the first from the Marina to arrive in Tortola and become witness to what is no longer there. 'The destruction was total. There are no buildings. The houses are gone. There's no water, no electricity, no food. People are desperate. I understand there were reports of people who were going to try to steal supplies and to rob the fridges of those who still had food or water, etc. The situation is somewhat tense,' he said.