Two-hundred Bermuda Regiment soldiers today helped to repair damage and clear debris caused by Tropical Storm Fay.

Squads spread out across the Island, putting tarpaulin on the roofs of 30 damaged homes, clearing roads of trees and tidying up around schools.

One Immediate Response Team (IRT) spent the afternoon clearing loose and broken slates from the roof of a home in Somerset, making it water and windproof.

“I’m very appreciative, said home owner Mike Corday. “I had heart surgery a few months back — this is a Godsend.

“I’m deeply grateful the soldiers came, they’ve been pleasant and professional.

“It’s great the Regiment does this kind of thing. We know the Regiment does a good job when they’re embodied and come out to help people but you don’t really appreciate them until it’s you that needs the help.”

IRT Private Shaun Richards, 25, an IT auditor from Devonshire and a member of the squad that helped the Corday family, said: “People are very happy to see us, especially when we’re doing road clearing.

“People even stopped and gave us sodas and snacks. Everybody’s grateful to see us, especially after such a rough hit.”

Other Regiment soldiers worked alongside staff from Works and Engineering and the Parks Department to clear roads and safely dispose of fallen trees.

Corporal Morriko Iris, 23, from Smith’s, who is employed by Works and Engineering, cleared dangerous trees in Somerset.

“I’ve been doing chainsaw operations, I love it,” he said. “I enjoy helping people and everybody’s been positive about what we’re doing.

“They find it reassuring just seeing us out there. We get a lot of appreciation at times like this.”

Regiment commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Michael Foster-Brown said soldiers distributed 150 tarpaulins to homes affected by the storm, and that the Regiment was preparing for deployment should Hurricane Gonzalo hit Bermuda this weekend.

“That’s why we are very focused on clearing roads — branches and debris could become missiles if a hurricane comes,” he said.

“What all this does is demonstrate the flexibility of a disciplined military force with its own command structure and communications — it can turn its hands to many things.

“What we’ve been doing is not our primary role but it’s one we’re very proud of and it’s a privilege to support our fellow Bermudians.

“If Hurricane Gonzalo does come, we will be ready to do it all over again.”