Transcript for Relief effort ramping up in the Caribbean as new storm approaches

As people in Florida recover, the situation may be more dire in the caribbean. Paradise islands, FAMZ paradise islands, devastated. Including the island of St. Maarten. David Wright has been surveying the damage. Reporter: Good morning, Dan. The relief effort is ramping up here. Even giant cruise ships like this one pitching in. Royal caribbean "Majesty of the seas" just back from a relief mission to St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Bringing supplies in and people out. A flood of people desperate to leave St. Maarten. At the island's main airport, the terminal is not safe. So the departure lounges, such as they are, are tents propped up in the parking lot. Country by country with duct-taped flags and plywood signs. I'm here since 5:00. Reporter: It will likely take months to restore water and power to much of the island. Irma ripped off the roof of this power station and destroyed several of the island's water tanks, too. Only this weekend did gas stations and banks open briefly. Five minutes the. Reporter: Like many islands, St. Maarten relies on tourism. Upwards of 90% of the economy is tourism-based. Look at what Irma has done. All of these buildings are hotels. None of them will open any time soon. Among the passengers boarding the the cruise ship, hotel owners Mike and fawnette. Their beach front B & B, the azure beach hotel, a total loss. We'll be demolishing and rebuilding. Opening hopefully in a year. Reporter: Full recovery will take time. The engine of the local economy, tourism, is not functioning. The people we met on St. Maarten, they're resilient and saying they'll pull through this. Not welcome news that MARIA might be bashling their way. A major new development in

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