Irma's Toll on Caribbean Life, Infrastructure and Tourism

Hurricane Irma's 185 mph winds bludgeoned several Caribbean destinations Wednesday into Thursday, carving a destructive path that led to more than a dozen deaths while ravaging resorts, airports, roads and major structures.

Although the damage was not widespread across the entire region, several Leeward chain destinations suffered significant damage that will impact travel and tourism infrastructure for the remainder of 2017.

In addition, several islands remained on watch Thursday as Irma continued her destructive path through the region.

The National Hurricane Center has issued a Hurricane Warning for parts of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Turks and Caicos and the central, northeastern and southeastern Bahamas.

Government and tourism officials in the region's most-visited country are preparing for Irma's arrival.

The Dominican Republic government has launched its Hurricane Contingency Plan in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES), said Joel Santos, ASONAHORES' president.

The groups "have been preparing since last week to ensure all precautions have been taken and all international protocols and contingency plans have been activated to help ensure the safety of visitors and residents alike," said Santos.

He advised consumers planning to travel to the region to check with individual airlines and tour operators for information regarding itinerary changes; travelers already in the region can contact the Consulate of the Dominican Republic for additional information.

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday recommended U.S. citizens avoid travel to The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands due to Irma. The Department also ordered the departure of non-essential government employees and their families. Storm conditions are expected to reach the southern Bahamas by Thursday and Nassau by Friday.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism announced Lynden Pindling International Airport will close at the end of Thursday due to the Category 5 hurricane's impending arrival.

In addition, 11 of the territory's smaller airports, including Cat Island, Exuma, Long Island and San Salvador, will also close Thursday evening. Six more, including Bimini and Grand Bahama, will close Friday.

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One of the territory's signature properties is also closing its doors in advance of Irma. The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar announced it will suspend hotel operations at 5 p.m. Thursday.

"We have worked closely with all of our guests to ensure their safe return home, and by the time we suspend hotel operations we will not have any guests resident at [the hotel] said Carla Santiago, a Hyatt spokeswoman. "We look forward to welcoming guests back as soon as it is safe for our guests and associates to return."

Santiago said Grand Hyatt Baha Mar personnel are working to "[secure] the properties' exterior" in anticipation of the storm. Hyatt will waive cancellation fees and assist with relocating guests "in mandatory or suggested evacuation areas." Hyatt is also communicating with guests "to inform them of the situation and potential closures due to evacuation orders or precautionary measures," she said.

Several of the company's Florida hotels, including the Hyatt Centric Key West, Hyatt Place Marathon/Florida Keys, Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six and Confidante Miami Beach are also closing in advance of Irma. Guests with pre-paid reservations will receive full refunds and cancellation fees will be waived during the closures.

Devastating Damage Reported

Several islands have already sustained some loss of life and significant property damage. In a statement issued Thursday, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, said casualties have been reported on Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barts and Barbuda.

"We are extremely saddened to learn that we lost life during the past 24 hours and we stand with our Caribbean brothers and sisters at this time," said Frank Comito, CHTA's director general. "The Caribbean people are resilient, and we are resolved to work with our partners to restore lives and communities," he added.

In a live TV broadcast, Gaston Browne, prime minister of dual-island Antigua & Barbuda, described the smaller Barbuda as "in a state of national disaster." Three people are confirmed dead while 90 percent of vehicles and structures on the island are ""totally demolished."

Browne said the damage will cost at least $150 million to repair with Barbuda "literally in rubble."

Princess Juiliana International Airport in the dual-nation island of Sint Maarten was overwhelmed by 185 mph gusts that ripped apart boarding walkways, downed safety fences, flooded the check-in areas and leveled nearby Maho Beach.

There is no word yet as to when the airport-a major international gateway for U.S. and European travelers heading to smaller islands in the Caribbean-will re-open.

St. Maarten's Sonesta resorts on Maho Beach, Ocean Point and Great Bay Beach also suffered significant damage. Sonesta has canceled further reservations through the end of 2017. Existing reservations through 2017 will be refunded when the resorts restore operations, said company officials in a statement.

In Puerto Rico, media outlets are without power after Irma reached the island Wednesday night. Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Thursday officials are assessing damage to the island and bringing back electricity to the hardest-hit areas.

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Impact Limited in Some Areas

Meanwhile, other islands emerged relatively intact. Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport was scheduled to re-open Thursday after the dual-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis experienced "minimal" damage, said a statement on the St. Kitts Tourism Authority website.

"Hotels are reporting no structural damage and all visitors are safe and accounted for," the statement adds. "The general public has been advised that the all clear has been given to local citizens."

The statement advises travelers with plans to visit the country this week to contact hotels and airline directly regarding policies for storm-related reservations and cancellation information.

Officials at the Nisbet Beach Plantation Club-a popular Nevis resort-reported "strong winds and rain," that created "considerable damage" to the resort's Sea Breeze Beach Bar and beachside deck, as well as to the beach itself. The resort's Great House and cottages were relatively unscathed, they added.

"Initial observations" at the dual-island nation's largest resort, the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, find the property "in excellent shape and all areas generally dry," said a Nevis Tourism Authority spokesperson. Pinney's Beach is also "in good shape" despite "some trees down and debris to be cleaned up," the spokesperson added.

Irma produced "heavy rains and strong winds" in Anguilla Wednesday according to an Anguilla Tourist Board advisory.

"The major resorts are relatively intact, although many private residences sustained some damage," the statement adds.

While Anguilla's Clayton J Lloyd International Airport did not sustain serious it has not yet reopened. In addition the Blowing Point and Road Bay seaports also remained closed until further notice.

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