Tim and Shona Ringsdore, who live on Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, are anxiously waiting indoors amid worsening weather as the storm continues to track towards mainland USA.
Irma – a category five hurricane with sustained wind speeds of 185mph – has caused major devastation across a number of islands.
It is expected to hit the BVI, where Mr and Mrs Ringsdore are staying with friends while they look for a property, on Wednesday night.
Mrs Ringsdore, who moved to Tortola in January last year, three months after her husband, who was the former managing director of JT in the Channel Islands, relocated to the island to work, said residents have been told to stay indoors.
Speaking about five hours before the hurricane was expected to hit, she said: ‘At the moment it is a tropical surge. It began as a light breeze and has steadily got worse.
‘Now it is like having a bracing walk along St Ouen’s Bay on a very windy day.
‘The hurricane is expected to hit between 2 pm and 4 pm our time (7 pm and 9 pm BST Wednesday).
‘Government offices have been shut down and a lot of places closed on Monday to give people time to prepare.
‘We have been told to stay indoors and we have taped up the windows and have got hurricane shutters up.’
She added: ‘The electricity and water are off but we have a small generator keeping things going and we expect the phone lines will go down soon too.
‘People here are very resolute. It is such a small community and everyone is helping each other.
‘It is very worrying but we are going to batten down the hatches and prepare for the hurricane’s arrival.’
