ELDERLY IN NIGHTMARE
Tiny Virgin paradise in pieces
It’s the smallest of the US Virgin Islands — and, perhaps, the hardest hit by Hurricane Irma.
Once-vibrant St. John, famous for its rolling green hills and serene white-sand beaches, is now a tattered wasteland after the Category 5 hurricane tore through the 20-square-mile island a week ago.
Multimillion-dollar homes have been reduced to rubble, trees were stripped of their lush foliage and boats and cars were strewn across the island like broken toys.
Now the 5,000 residents who call the island home are trying to pick up the pieces.
“My house, my business, both my vehicles, everything is gone,” said Michael Benson, 65.
St. John has been designated an active disaster zone, with the National Guard patrolling the streets and FEMA shuttling in aid, including food and water.
Meanwhile, the tourism industry has flipped into reverse as cruise ships and sightseeing helicopters scramble to get stranded visitors off the isle.
The Norwegian and Carnival cruise lines both sent ships to ferry people to St. Thomas, the territory’s most populous and one of the lesser-hit isles, according to the US Virgin Islands Tourism Board.
Caribbean Buzz Helicopters also gave evacuees a lift.
“We’re taking everyone who’s sick, injured, pregnant or young off the island,” employee Charlotte Van Heurck told The Post by phone.