The Caribbean response supported by Cable & Wireless

A partnership born out of a shared vision to see no family without shelter after disaster

Hurricane Irma was the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

In September 2017, Irma hit the northeast Caribbean islands with 185 mph wind speeds, devastating communities.

Just two weeks later, as these communities looked to rebuild, they were hit again, this time by Hurricane Maria.

For people living on the affected islands, the hurricanes of September 2017 completely changed their lives.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria did not discriminate as to what they destroyed – schools, supermarkets, police stations and homes were demolished.

Crucial support


Cable & Wireless, the global telecommunications company, reacted just as rapidly as we did to the devastation in the Caribbean.

By quickly getting in touch with our team, they were able to donate $100,000 to directly support those they could see desperately needed their help.

ShelterBox responded to the most isolated communities in the Caribbean that needed support. The donation from Cable & Wireless was directly spent on providing shelter for 1,121 families in Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands and Dominica.

Our response was tailored for the situation on each island. On some islands there were natural resources available to quickly rebuild homes with the help of our shelter kits. Elsewhere, tents were the best option – creating a safe home while the long clean-up process took place.

Man in the Caribbean standing amongst rubble.

Measuring the impact


Man and woman having a discussion

Our monitoring and evaluating process means we can absolutely quantify to partners how their support has made a difference.

In the Caribbean, we were able to report to Cable & Wireless how they helped families protect themselves from the elements, return to normal family activities, and improve their privacy and psychological wellbeing.

‘The tent allowed them to continue working, and to live on the site, as they rebuilt [their] home. Construction is coming along, and the recovery is in process. The construction of the new home is almost complete.’

– Martin Strutton, M&E Coordinator, ShelterBox

We’re thrilled that ShelterBox and Rotary, with their expertise and passion for relief deployment, have joined as inaugural partners of the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation.

The aim of the Foundation is to make an immediate difference in the lives of those affected by disaster, and with ShelterBox and Rotary as partners, I am confident that we can continue doing just that.

John Reid, CEO, Cable & Wireless

Disasters never stop


We are always monitoring potential disasters around the globe.

Events such as flash floods and hurricanes are somewhat more predictable than an earthquake or a volcanic eruption. But no matter the disaster, we are ready to respond.

With the help of our emergency response partners, we can deliver more aid, send more teams, and ultimately ensure more families have shelter when they need it most.

Just as we are prepared to respond, so your organisation can be too.

Many companies work with us to create plans to quickly and effectively release funds, engage their staff, and inspire their clients should a disaster strike.

If this is something you would like to explore, please get in touch with our Corporate Partnerships team using the button below.

Get in touch

Shelter kits on a beach in Barbuda after Hurricane Irma

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Corporate training days

Unique training days inspired by our high-performing disaster response teams

ShelterBox training day

Drawing upon years of experience building teams that achieve superior results and communicate effectively in high-risk environments, we have developed a 1-day training course where you will develop leadership skills and an understanding of how high-performing teams work.