Billionaire Richard Branson reveals images of 'huge' damage on Necker Island as he calls for hurricane 'Recovery Plan'

Richard Branson has shared images of the "huge"
damage left by Hurricane Irma on his private
Caribbean island.
Necker took the full force of the record-breaking
storm earlier this week as it swept through the British
Virgin Islands.
Branson posted images of buildings and vegetation
left completely destroyed by the monster storm.
Writing from Puerto Rico, he said: "As you can see
from the photos, much of the buildings and vegetation
on Necker has been destroyed or badly damaged.
"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."
"This story is about the tens of thousands of people
who have lost their homes and their livelihoods."
Branson said the government's response to the
Hurricane - which has been highly criticised - has led
to "worrying reports of civil unrest".
"We must get more help to the islands to rebuild
homes and infrastructure and restore power, clean
water and food supplies," he added.
"The UK government will have a massive role to play
in the recovery of its territories affected by Irma -
both through short-term aid and long-term
infrastructure spending.
"The region needs a "Disaster Recovery Marshall
Plan" for the BVI and other territories that will aid in
recovery, sustainable reconstruction and long-term
revitalisation of the local economy."
Earlier this week, Branson gave a shocking first-
person account of Hurricane Irma, saying the 185mph
storm has sent doors and windows "flying 40 feet
away".
In an emotional message, the billionaire Virgin boss
describes how his luxurious Necker Island home has
been "completely and utterly devastated" by the
hurricane.
He says entire houses and trees have vanished - and
vows to do whatever possible to support and assist
the local community in "this extremely testing time".
"It is a traumatic time here in the British Virgin
Islands," says Mr Branson , who spoke the words to
Virgin colleagues via a satellite phone that was "just
about working".
"Hurricane Irma is continuing a path of destruction
that brought the eye of the storm to Necker Island,
Moskito Island and the whole surrounding area."
He adds: "I have never seen anything like this
hurricane.
"Necker and the whole area have been completely and
utterly devastated. We are still assessing the damage,
but whole houses and trees have disappeared.
Outside of the bunker, bathroom and bedroom doors
and windows have flown 40 feet away."
Mr Branson, who bunkered down in a concrete wine
cellar with family and friends, confirms that all of the
team on Necker and Moskito Island are "safe and
well".
"We took shelter from the strongest hurricane ever
inside the concrete cellar on Necker and very, very
fortunately it held firm," he says. "Our thoughts go out
to everyone affected by the disaster elsewhere in the
BVI, Caribbean and beyond."
He also explains: "I’m speaking these words from a
satellite phone that is just about working, but all other
communications are down."
Mr Branson's account was posted on Virgin's website .
In it, the billionaire urges others in the Category 5
hurricane's path to "put safety first".
"For those who are still in the path of Hurricane Irma,
and Hurricane Jose to come, I cannot emphasise
enough how important it is to put safety first and
prepare as strongly as possible," he says. "Having
seen first-hand the power of this storm, please ensure
you stay inside, ideally in organised shelters or other
solid concrete structures with water, supplies and
emergency contact plans."
He adds: "We will do whatever we can to support and
assist our local community through this extremely
testing time. If our really strong buildings sustained
such damage, I am so worried for elsewhere in the
BVI and Caribbean."
Virgin Atlantic's Antigua flight was today packed with
"essential items" to aid the recovery effort, and Virgin
has made a donation to the British Red Cross.
Mr Branson thanked everyone who had sent well
wishes and support.
Earlier, his son, Sam Branson, had confirmed no one
was hurt on Necker in an Instagram post.
He said: "Glad to say that all humans on Necker are
OK although a lot of buildings destroyed and main
house in uninhabitable."
Sam went on to say that his thoughts are with other
Caribbean islands who have not fared as well.
"Very concerned for our friends and everyone on the
neighbouring islands and people in its path," he added.
"Please don't take this hurricane lightly if it is heading
your way.
"If your building is not very solid, do find somewhere
safe! Homes can be rebuilt but lives can't."
Hurricane Irma reached the Leeward Islands, east of
Puerto Rico, yesterday and flattened Barbuda, killing
at least eight people, before hitting Necker Island.
Earlier, the Virgin boss had described his preparations
for Irma.
"We are expecting to get the full force of the
hurricane in around five hours’ time, when we will
retreat to a concrete wine cellar under the Great
House," Mr Branson wrote on his blog.
"Knowing our wonderful team as I do, I suspect there
will be little wine left in the cellar when we all
emerge."
The business mogul added that everyone at the
estate slept in just two rooms last night as they
prepared for the extreme weather.
"The strength of this hurricane is unheard of," he
said.
"The atmosphere is eerie but beautiful. Everyone is
willing the eye of the storm to veer away from the
BVI in these last few hours.
"Our main concern is safety, for everyone here and for
all the people in the BVI and in the path of the
hurricane.

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