Hurrican Ianos - September 2020

Not having been able to share 2020 festivals and concerts due to covid this year, the last thing I expected was to share a hurrican on Ithaca Greece. It's been a devastating year for the world, Ithaca was not alone in the covid measures, but then to have a freak hurricane, something that never happens in Greece, let alone the Ionian, known for it's calm waters and temperate climate, was just unbelievable. It's difficult enough for this little island to recover from 10 years of austerity, then covid and now a hurricane, so please donate to all the places you 've seen on social media.
To donate directly to the Frikes community see here:

Damage is wide spread, but Frikes and Kioni were hit the hardest. All over the island, there was flooding, businesses ruined, power outs, roofs lifted from their houses, trees and powerlines down everywhere. 2018 saw a big storm come through this way, but it was nothing like verocious Ianos. Locals could hear the damage outside their locked up shutters, but were helpless to do anything.

To donate to Kioni see below:

Many people have lost their livelihoods, especially the fisherman who had their boats sunk by Ianos. Business lost tens of thousands of euros worth of stock and equipment. Restaurant tents alone can cost up to 10,000 euro. Artists lost years of inspiration and even the strongest in the community was shaken. Ithaca lost some beaches and gained new ones. Uprooted trees lay across the roads, cars were whipped up by the wind and flung into buildings.

Ithaca can rebuild the structures, but the heart of the community, despite it's outward strength, has been shaken beyond belief. Vathy was without electricity for 2 days, the north of the island was without electricity for around 6 days and inspite of all the difficulties, the community banded together to begin the massive clean up, from Kioni to vathy and everywhere in between. Every village was impacted in some way or another, but no one was left unaided. Ithaca is a strong community.

Even the little chapel at the mouth of Forkys Bay at Dexia, had it's belly ripped open by the smashing of waves against it.

It would be easy to believe there was never a hurrican in Vathy when you look upon the habour the next day.

Delicious in Stavros lit the barbeque due to the lack of electricity and gave the locals a hot meal as many were without cooking facilities due to the power outage.