English: Picture shows a Royal Marine Colour Sergeant sawing off damaged timbers from a house partially destroyed by Hurricane IRMA on the Island of Tortola, BVI.

Assault Engineers (AEs) from 40 Commando Royal Marines were tasked to carry out repairs on a badly damaged house.

The owners were forced to flee their home soon after Hurricane Irma hit due to the extent of the damage.

The pair who were both in poor health had no choice but to stay in a nearby shelter.

The AEs arrived just after first light and went straight to work. They first assessed the stability of the house's foundations, before proceeding with construction. They found that only 50% of the structure was salvageable and that the rest was storm damaged beyond repair.

The decision to repair half of the house was made. Using salvaged materials and the “shelter in a box” from the Department for International Development (DFID), the Royal Marines replaced the roof over the 50% of inhabitable structure, installed a new stud wall and fixed joists and trusses to ensure stability.

This is just one of many projects across the British Virgin Islands undertaken by specialists from across 3 Commando Brigade.

In early September 2017 Hurricane Irma moved through the Caribbean region, causing absolute devastation wherever it landed. The British Overseas Territories of Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands suffered lasting damage.

All three services and other government departments, along with hundreds of troops were involved in the huge humanitarian effort. Ships, planes and helicopters delivered tonnes of supplies to the UK nationals and locals caught up in the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma.

• Organization: Royal Navy
• Object Name: BB170051007
• Category: MOD
• Supplemental Categories: Reconstruction, Humanitarian, Operations, Royal Marines, People, Security
• Keywords: CSgt, SNCO, Senior Non Commissioned Officer, NCO, Non Commissioned Officer, Rank, Colour Sergeant, Saw, Sawing, Hurricane MARIA, Security, Engineering, Repairs, Hurricane IRMA, Caribbean, Operation Ruman, Disaster Relief, Tortola, Road Town, British Vigin Islands, BVI, Humanitarian Aid, Shore Establishment, Royal Marine Unit, Caribbean Sea, 40 Commando, Op RUMAN, Alpha Company, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Unit, 3 Commando Brigade, 3 Cdo Bde RM, 40 Cdo, Personnel, Non-Identifiable
• Country: BVI