Woman safe after sheltering for hours in bathtub

A TAYSIDE woman has been evacuated to Puerto Rico after being caught up in Hurricane Irma.

Katrina Lindsay, from Perth, has been living in Cane Garden, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, while working as a lawyer on the islands.

She said she has no idea when she will be allowed to return to the islands after being taken to Puerto Rico with work colleagues.

Katrina, 28, said: “It was about last Wednesday that we first noticed it was getting windier.

“It just started getting worse and then we noticed there was sawdust starting to come down from the ceiling of where my friend and I have been staying. The winds were howling. There were things banging against the side of the house.

“We both decided to try to block everything as best as we could and we went into the bathtub to be safe.

“We managed to sit it out for a couple of hours.

“The scariest part was the howling from the wind — I’d never heard anything like it before.

“It got to the eye of the storm and we came out.

“We had hurricane-proof windows and I was actually surprised at how well they held up.

“Our neighbours came to check if we were OK and they were brilliant.

“The father of the family was exnavy and nothing bothered him.

“Where we were there has been some looting but nothing violent.”

Katrina added: “There are people who have lost everything and they need to get what they can.

“A lot of the bars and restaurants were battered by waves. There are cars flipped over and everything. It’s unbelievable.

“My company was on the list for people who were able to get evacuated, so we’re here now.

“I don’t know when we’ll be able to get back but I’m safe and I’ve been in regular contact with my family.”

Katrina Lindsay