Tim Duncan: ‘Destruction everywhere' after pair of hurricanes devastate U.S. Virgin Islands

Duncan appears on The Weather Channel seeking donations, supplies for victims

Courtesy: The Weather Chanell Twitter page

SAN ANTONIO – Less than a week after San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan arrived in his homeland in the U.S. Virgin Islands for Hurricane Irma relief efforts, Hurricane Maria made landfall as a Category 5, battering the already devastated Caribbean region.

On Wednesday, Duncan appeared live on The Weather Channel to talk about his “21 US Virgin Island Relief Fund” he established shortly after Hurricane Irma.

Recommended Videos



Duncan, born and raised in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, said he toured the island when he arrived Sept. 15 and witnessed “destruction everywhere.”

TOP STORY ON KSAT.COM: SA mom receives new car after using couponing skills to help Harvey victims

“Trees down, all the electric poles were down, debris everywhere, houses were gone, cars flooded, (and) a lot more flooding today in St. Thomas,” Duncan said via Skype on The Weather Channel.

Duncan’s interview comes one day after Hurricane Maria battered the Virgin Islands and surrounding islands with the storm's eyewall passing near St. Croix directly, with maximum sustained winds around 160 miles per hour.

UPDATE ON KSAT.COM: Hurricane Maria downgraded to Category 2

According to ABC news, Nykile Tyson, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Virgin Islands Emergency Operations Center, said there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries on St. Croix.

However, Tyson said it was still too dangerous Wednesday to conduct a thorough search of the island, according to ABC.

FOLLOW ON TWITTER: @KSATadrian

LIKE ON FACEBOOK: @KSATadrian

Duncan said he has been in touch with a couple people who live in the surrounding area but communication with family and friends who live in St. Croix has been difficult.

“I’ve been in touch with a couple people, not much in St. Croix right now (as) there’s a lot of communication problems. So far, I’ve heard about roofs being torn off houses and things of that nature,” Duncan said on The Weather Channel.

Duncan’s “21 US Virgin Island Relief Fund” has collected more than $2.5 million in donations with a goal of $5 million.

NEW ON KSAT.COM: Pink and blue, SAPD adding color to uniforms for breast cancer awareness

“We are collecting supplies, we are looking for corporations to help us raise money and to get planes to get the product out there in a timely fashion,” Duncan said.

According to the Twitter page for Duncan’s relief fund, he is scheduled to appear on Anderson Cooper’s 360 show that airs on CNN at 7 p.m. ET.

To learn more about how you can donate to Duncan’s Hurricane relief efforts, follow the link.

agarcia@ksat.com


About the Author: