6 months after Hurricane Maria, island of St. Croix is on the rebound

"The water is always green and the tourists are coming back," said Fran Scuderi, of Olney, Maryland, from St. Croix where he owns two homes. "It's truly amazing the resilience down here." (Courtesy Fran Scuderi) — “The water is always green and the tourists are coming back,” said Fran Scuderi, of Olney, Maryland, speaking from St. Croix where he owns two homes. “It’s truly amazing the resilience down here.” (Courtesy Fran Scuderi)

St. Croix's natural splendor bounced back quickly after Hurricane Maria. (Courtesy Fran Scuderi) — St. Croix’s natural splendor bounced back quickly after Hurricane Maria. (Courtesy Fran Scuderi)

Derek and Jennifer Shupe own two waterside restaurants, Brew STX and Shupe’s on the Boardwalk in the town of Christiansted. Both establishments took a direct hit from hurricane Maria. “We rebounded quickly and have been running full throttle ever since,” Shupe said. (Courtesy Fran Scuderi) — Derek and Jennifer Shupe own two waterside restaurants in the town of Christiansted: Brew STX and Shupe’s on the Boardwalk. Both establishments took a direct hit from Hurricane Maria. “We rebounded quickly and have been running full throttle ever since,” Shupe said. (Courtesy Fran Scuderi)

Todd and Kay Rosenthal of D.C. arrive on the island to visit Fran Scuderi. (Courtesy Fran Scuderi)

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WASHINGTON — Blue tarps covering roofs are still part of the landscape on the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Croix, but significant recovery is evident six months after Hurricane Maria battered the island.

“It’s amazing — the turnaround — that the island has come back so strong,” said Fran Scuderi from the island where he owns two homes he’s checking on.

The Category 5 storm hit the Island on Sept. 19 with sustained winds of over 157 mph.

Now, Scuderi from Olney in Maryland, finds the foliage has grown back; grocery stores and restaurants are stocked and busy; and most power in the U.S. Virgin Islands was restored last January.

“There are two main hotels that are not up and running, the Divi and the Renaissance,” Scuderi said..

Hotels that are open are serving a mix of tourists, construction workers and insurance adjusters.

“On the drive in with the occasional roof torn up and so on — you probably wouldn’t even recognize that we had a major hurricane here,” Scuderi said.

The farther out you go away from the main towns, Scuderi said, there are fewer amenities such as power, phones and cable, and relief agencies are working to help people whose homes weren’t insured.

“They are the last ones coming out of repair mode,” Scuderi said. “Don’t stop supporting the islands.”