Sent in by Don Noel, owner of Villa Hikaru:
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We got back late Friday night from Hikaru at Billy's Bay, and are grateful to the many who held us and our neighbors in thoughts and prayers.

Ivan ran west right along the South Coast, the eye apparently ten miles or so offshore when it passed Treasure Beach -- a Category Five hurricane at that point that had slowed its forward movement to five miles an hour. The result was that we had 30 hours of howling winds Friday night through Saturday night with gusts well over 175 mph, and seas more than thirty feet high.

The fact that there was relatively little rain (more than five inches, since that's the max on my gauge, but perhaps not too much more) was a blessing, since the ground all over the island was saturated and ponded already from Hurricane Charley a few weeks earlier, with already a significant danger of mosquito-propagated disease. A neighbor(Lenny Buchanan) and I think we dealt successfully with the huge pond that lay between our houses, but the government needs to initiate an island-wide spraying program.

It was fortunate that we were at our house: I was able to keep a large casement window and a double door from being sucked out, which would have compounded what was in fact minor water damage. We lost a sheet of corrugated roofing, but I was able to get it bolted back down on Sunday afternoon.

Many of our rental neighbors suffered worse. Some of our village neighbors had whole roofs stripped off and sometimes the houses collapsed into rubble, as Valney Ritchie's was.
(Joyce Smith, our housekeeper, escaped significant damage; our second maid, Monica Hill, lost her roof -- as did many, many!) It turned sunny on Monday, and Miss Monica came with me to look for repair parts. We joked to each other that it looked like universal laundry day as folks hung out rain-drenched clothes on lines, poles, fences and bushes to dry.

We fed hummingbirds until wind speeds Friday night made that impossible, then put the feeder out Sunday morning as soon as winds abated a bit (there were still 60 mph gusts Sunday, my wind gauge said, its maximum reading), and were rewarded with a steady stream of visitors, some of which just sat and drank sugarwater for five minutes at a time, desperate for energy. It's hard to imagine where any birds shelter in such winds, let alone such tiny denizens, and I'm sure some died, but birdlife is coming back.

Like everyone else, we were without power or telephone for several days, and so unable to communicate! Then Digicell got back up (its towers had not been knocked over anywhere we could see, but they lost power for a time). Everyone hurried to call loved ones to report their continued existence, and soon the most prized possession at Treasure Beach was a vehicle with the right adapter for the cigarette lighter to recharge exhausted cell phones (which most did free, although a fe w charged). We ourselves had no running water, but a full cistern, which we happily shared with neighbors. Miss Joyce performed miracles to find us food.

I hired a dozen men to pick the remnants of our seawall and thatched hut out of the roiling surf and off the beach, hack away at some of the downed trees and to dredge leaves and debris out of the well and pool. But the pool will have to be drained and refilled, a task we can't hope to complete until water becomes more available.

I had to give up temporarily after I fell while pruning our storm-damaged mango tree, producing a rather severe gash on my knee. It was quite adequately sewn up at Black River Hospital, but I'd done about as much as I can until power is restored, so we flew home Friday. Power may not be back for as much as three weeks island wide, although there are rumors Treasure Beach could see power within the week. If so, thanks to Jason Henzell and Jake's clout as a tourist spot.

My tentative plan is go back October 15. The landscape we left behind looked like late autumn in New England, with most leaves fallen, but we know from experience with Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 that they'll leaf back with astonishing speed, perhaps even by the time I get back, masking some of the ugly breaks. Thank heavens for the lushness of tropical vegetation. Still, it will be a full season before it looks truly normal, and we haven't yet decided how to handle the sea-wall and where to put a replacement thatched hut.

Don Noel and Elizabeth Brad Noel
Hikaru
Billy's Bay

Thanks Don and Brad. Glad both are safe and kudos to Ms Joyce's heroic efforts. Great narrative. The Morgans

Don;

Was devastated at the news that Ivan had hit treasure beach so violently. We, here in Canada don't get all the detailed news of exactly where the storm hits.

My interest is because I stayed at your villa for one week a couple of years ago with my daughter Debbi Estes and hubby Steve. It was a paradise, and I hope you will be able to return it to its original glory.

Please give my love to Miss Joyce, whom I remember with great affection, and I hope she has come through the ordeal without too much damage.

Sincerely, Bill Wharton

God is for us a refuge and strength,
a help that is readily to be found during distresses,
That is why we shall not fear, though the earth undergo change
And the mountains totter into the heart of the vast sea;
Though its waters be boisterous, foam over,
Though the mountains rock at its uproar.
--Psalm 46:1-3)
Thanks,Glaceta for sending this Psalm through the Inspirational Thoughts segment here..To all of you ..As powerful as God is he loves us, protects us and gives us the strength to endure.. God bless all during this time.

Hi Don&Brad---Glad your injuries were not to bad Don, and Hikaru is also in good shape.Please let us know if we can drop off anything to you to bring back to treasure Beach for our good friends.You can reach us at 860-738-7323 in Winsted.We hope to stay at Hikaru in the near future, and will also bring some items with us---hope all is well-----Pete&Joan Guglielmino