Life is slowly getting back to normal for some in the Caribbean less than four months after their homelands were battered by hurricanes.

While the recovery still has a long way to go on some islands, Bermuda has played its part in helping people to get back on their feet.

Kenneth Morgan, a former Bermuda resident who lives in the British Virgin Islands, which was badly affected by Hurricane Irma, said international assistance had proven invaluable.

Electricity has been restored to parts of the country, he said, while a curfew in place for safety reasons will be lifted before Christmas.

Mr Morgan, who lives in Tortola, said: “It has had a huge impact. We are a small place and when something like this happens, assistance is invaluable. Just having electricity is crucial to getting back to normal. Having the teams from Bermuda, Canada and Jamaica to help has been invaluable, as was getting police here to help keep law and order.

“We’re now at the point where the curfew is being lifted at the end of the week, which will be another step towards normalcy.”

While Bermuda escaped untouched during hurricane season, Hurricane Irma tore through the Caribbean in September, damaging or destroying 95 per cent of buildings on Barbuda, including its hospital, schools and hotels.

A state of emergency, the first in the territory’s history, was declared in BVI with authorities estimating it would take many months for power to be restored to the islands.

While the region was still reeling from Irma, Hurricane Maria ripped through Dominica, causing extensive flooding and landslides. An estimated 98 per cent of homes suffered roof damage in the storm and infrastructure in Roseau, the capital, was left in ruins.

Maria also caused lasting damage in Puerto Rico, destroying the territory’s power grid to leave all 3.4 million residents without electricity.

Hurricane Irma has been blamed for 134 deaths and more than $66 billion in damages, with Maria responsible for more than $103 billion in damages and more than 500 deaths, according to some media reports.

Bermuda was one of many nations who offered assistance to the affected islands, with teams from Belco, the Royal Bermuda Regiment and Bermuda Police Service helping with the restoration efforts.

A team of Belco linemen flew to BVI to aid BVI Electric Company’s efforts to restore the power grid. They were joined by a group from the Bermuda Police Service, who assisted with internal security.

The Royal Bermuda Regiment flew 30 soldiers to Grand Turk Island to help after Irma. The soldiers remained on the island as it was struck by Maria and worked to clear roads to key emergency service centres and deliver supplies in the storm’s wake.

Numerous charity groups also launched fundraising campaigns to support the Caribbean community.

Mr Morgan said the majority of Tortola residents, himself included, lost power when Hurricane Irma passed over BVI.

“I still don’t have electricity and I may not get it back until February,” he said. “Many people don’t, but I’m fortunate in that I have, and have been using, a generator.

“People who don’t have that are obviously in a worse place. If you have a job and you have a roof over your head, then you have a sense of normalcy. More and more people are getting into that position, but it will take a long time before anything is close to normal.

“There are a lot of people still in a bad way, but overall the movement is towards a return to normal and people are getting back into their lives.”

Jeannette Forte, who came to Bermuda with her family in the wake of the storm, said they hope to return home to Tortola in June.

“We decided to remain in Bermuda because we have three children, one of whom is completing his final year at school,” she said.

“At the time of evacuation and relocation it was unknown how long it would take to get the school up and running with the complete programme in place — bear in mind that teachers and administrators were also displaced with damage to their homes and there was damage to the school, which thankfully was not too bad.”

Mrs Forte said she has been keeping abreast of the restoration work and that there had been slow progress.

“We constantly hear about recovery and the best news is that our neighbourhood on Tortola is being worked on this week for power restoration,” she said.

“I believe insurance companies have now been round to assess all the claims, but it is taking time for some, so many places are still not yet being rebuilt.

“Tortola was hit with flash floods and another tropical storm about a week later and so the roads suffered further damage, making some places impassable and relief efforts hampered.”

Alan Joell, who has family in Dominica, said he was thankful that the loss of life was not greater.

“People are still struggling with the infrastructure,” he said. “There are still a lot of areas out of power, but they are receiving a lot of international assistance.

“The main town is easily accessible, but once you get out towards the mountains, there’s quite a lot of work that needs to be done there.

“The main thing, of course, is the loss of life. Everything else you can replace.”