Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
The hurricanes ripped so many plants out of the ground that the Virgin Islands appeared to change color. Photo: Joshua Stevens / NASA Earth Observatory via AP
The Caribbean islands in the direct paths of Hurricanes Irma and Maria weathered two instances of Category 5-level winds and rain in just over a week. The storms have ripped off roofs, leveled neighborhoods and prompted mass evacuations.
Dominica, Barbuda and the Virgin Islands — which are already dealing with high rates of poverty — were hardest hit by the back-to-back hurricanes, and face a long road to recovery.
- There's not a single living person on Barbuda for the first time in 300 years. The island evacuated all 1,800 of its residents, and 95% of homes and buildings are destroyed.
- Maria made landfall in Dominica this morning, packing 160 mph sustained winds. That's stronger than Harvey and Irma when they hit Texas and Florida, respectively.
- Parts of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico could be "uninhabitable for months" after Maria strikes, per NBC.
- As the above natural color photos shot by NASA show, the hurricanes ripped so many plants out of the ground that the Virgin Islands appeared to change color. "Lush green tropical vegetation can be ripped away by a storm's strong winds, leaving the satellite with a view of more bare ground. Also, salt spray whipped up by the hurricane can coat and desiccate leaves while they are still on the trees," per NASA.