Hurricane Irma was the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history, and when it passed through the Caribbean and Bahamas before making landfall in Florida it left a trail of devastation. 90% of the buildings and homes on St Maarten and the surrounding islands were damaged or destroyed, leaving many homeless and unemployed.

Within hours after the hurricane passed over the island, K1 volunteers were some of the first on the scene, spending 12-14 hours a day clearing away debris and rubble, assessing the liveability of shelters, providing comfort and distributing donated food and water from select business individuals who gave what they had remaining.

On September 6th, 2017, the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history hit the North Caribbean devastating everything within it’s wake. Hurricane Irma damaged over 90% of the buildings and homes on St Maarten and her surrounding islands, leaving many homeless and unemployed.

K1 Britannia Foundation, is a charity operating in St Maarten that focuses extensively on maritime projects, concentrating on the social issues faced by troubled youth on the island. A few hours after the hurricane passed over the island, K1 volunteers were among the first to jump into action.

On September 6th, 2017, the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history hit the north Caribbean devastating everything within its wake. Hurricane Irma damaged over 90% of the buildings and homes on St Maarten and her surrounding islands, leaving many homeless and unemployed.

Exactly one month ago, Irma made landfall on Barbuda as a Category 5 hurricane. Adding insult to injury, Maria came through the Caribbean, also as a Category 5, on September 19. Barbuda, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Turks and Caicos, and both the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, among others, are struggling to rebuild. As much as several superyacht charities are mobilizing assistance, many people realize there’s strength in numbers. Therefore, more superyacht charities now exist, and are now lending aid. In addition, more industry groups are backing long-established superyacht charities and other non-profits.

The Work, Training, and Social Development Program is a 6-month program put together by K1 Britannia that provides 11 foster teenagers and 5 teenagers under probationary measures, aged 16 to 18, with work placements, educational and practical training courses, “work-ready” workshops and volunteer placements with social organizations in order to improve their employability once they leave the foster care or juvenile judicial system at the age of 18.

San Jose – Just two weeks after Hurricane Irma overwhelmed several Caribbean islands, Hurricane Maria has multiplied humanitarian needs in the region. Since 20 September, IOM surge team members have been present in Dominica, Sint Maarten, Antigua and Barbados conducting assessments on the needs of affected populations, and supporting local authorities and humanitarian actors to implement preparedness and response activities.

Prior to the arrival of Hurricane Maria, IOM surge team supported the government of Sint Maarten to prepare evacuation centres by assisting coordination-related activities including: dissemination of early warning messages to the public and prepositioning basic relief items, such as food and water, in all evacuation centres across Sint Maarten. Additionally, IOM trained over 50 Red Cross and K1 Britannia Foundation volunteers on basic evacuation centre management.

On September 1, four Leverage team members congregated in St Martin to create a video about the incomparable experience of working with Leverage. They were equipped with some heavy duty video equipment, cameras, tech, and guitars (the two more musical members of the team). They created a storyboard, a gameplan, and checked out the best spots on the island.

One of the strongest storms ever recorded in Atlantic, Hurricane Irma barreled through the Caribbean and Florida last week and weekend. At her strongest, she was a Category 5 storm with winds around 185 miles per hour and left much destruction in her wake, major yachting communities not excluded. From the ravaged British and U.S. Virgin Islands to the destruction of Barbuda, here’s how you and your fellow yachties can assist with relief efforts.

PHILIPSBURG--K1 Britannia Foundation volunteers distributed hundreds of bottles of water to the public on Thursday. The group had trucks full of water and were escorted by the Marines going from district to district.