U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS -- Downed power lines, boats tossed like toys and a formerly lush paradise-turned-wasteland are Hurricane Irma's stamp on the U.S Virgin Islands.
Denver native Shauna Betz lives in one of the islands devastated by the hurricane. She was one of the lucky ones who were able to get out of the island.
“There is a lot of people that would like to get off the island right now,” said Shauna Betz.
Betz says the limited food, medical supplies and the power outage that could last months have made the area unstable and unsafe.
“We need people to step in and to help out just to keep law and order for right now,” she said.
Betz’s friend, Kyle McNamara, is a Boulder native still on the islands, and says his three bars were recently looted.
“It's scary. I’m afraid to go out at night and during the day,” said Kyle McNamara.
He says despite a heavy law enforcement presence, there it's not enough to make him feel safe.
“Myself and the group of people that I’m with, we have plans in place in case someone breaks into the house. We are barricading our doors,” said McNamara.
Locals there are in dire need of basic supplies. Resources Center of the U.S Virgin Islands and Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands are two organizations are helping locals on the islands.
