page_title: Effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands
section_title: Depopulation
hierarchical_section_title: Effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands / Recovery / Depopulation
caption_attribution_description: A ruined house on Main Street, Road Town, Tortola after Hurricane Irma.
context_page_description: The effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands were significant in terms of both human and socio-economic impact on the Territory. Hurricane Irma struck the British Virgin Islands as a Category 5 hurricane during the daylight hours of Wednesday, 6 September 2017. It caused widespread destruction, and killed a total of four people. The eye of the hurricane traveled over the three major islands in the group: Virgin Gorda, Tortola and Jost Van Dyke.
  The hurricane caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure in the Territory, and caused statistically significant levels of depopulation.
  The Governor, Gus Jaspert, who had only been sworn in a few days previously, declared a state of emergency under the Territory's constitution, the first time this had ever happened. As radio facilities had been significantly damaged and were inoperable, the state of emergency had to be announced by distribution of flyers around the capital, Road Town.
context_section_description: In May 2018 the Immigration Department of the British Virgin Islands announced that the population of the Territory has dropped by approximately 11% since Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the previous year.
caption: A ruined house in Road Town, Tortola after Hurricane Irma.
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