NASA’s Operational Land Imager captured photos from space of some of the hardest-hit Caribbean islands. This is an image of the Virgin Islands before and after Irma passed over them.
NASA revealed that “lush green tropical vegetation can be ripped away by a storm’s strong winds, leaving the satellite with a view of more bare ground.” It also noted that the salt spray whipped up by Irma can coat and cause decaying of the leaves while they are on the trees.