PHOTOS: Irma Tears Through Westwood Family's Tropical Vacation

WESTWOOD, N.J. — The Joachims of Westwood were hoping to relax in the Caribbean before heading back to school and work for the fall.

Hurricane Irma, however, had other plans for the family of four.

Mike and Annie Joachim, along with their two daughters, Charlotte and Piper, found themselves in the thick of the storm early Friday morning, and woke up to wreckage unlike anything they'd ever seen, Annie, a Suffern, N.Y. native, told Daily Voice.

Irma slammed through the islands and is en route to Florida this weekend. Forecasters say it has been downgraded slightly but remains a powerful and dangerous system.

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