St. George’s, Grenada – Hurricane Beryl surged through the open waters as a fierce Category 4 storm on Tuesday, making its way towards Jamaica after devastating islands in the southeast Caribbean and claiming the lives of at least six individuals. The regions of Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac were under a hurricane warning as Beryl approached. Despite a decrease in intensity, the storm was projected to maintain major-hurricane strength as it neared Jamaica early Wednesday, the Cayman Islands on Thursday, and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A hurricane watch was issued for the southern coast of Haiti and the east coast of the Yucatan, while Belize implemented a tropical storm watch from its border with Mexico to Belize City. Beryl set a record by becoming the earliest storm to escalate to a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, reaching peak winds of 165 mph on Tuesday before weakening to a Category 4 storm. As of Tuesday night, the storm was approximately 360 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with top winds of 150 mph and moving west-northwest at 22 mph, as reported by the National Hurricane Center.
The anticipated impact of Beryl includes life-threatening winds and storm surges in Jamaica, prompting officials to urge residents in flood-prone areas to prepare for potential evacuation. Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica emphasized the seriousness of the hurricane while advising against panic. National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan expressed particular concern for Jamaica, as the island appeared to be in the direct path of the storm.
In the midst of the storm’s rampage through the Caribbean Sea, rescue teams in the southeastern islands diligently assessed the damage inflicted by Beryl on Carriacou, a Grenadian island. Reports confirmed three fatalities in Grenada and Carriacou, one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two in northern Venezuela. Heavy rainfall from Beryl also affected around 25,000 individuals in Venezuela. Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the dire situation in Carriacou and Petit Martinique, noting the significant destruction of homes and buildings, impassable roads, and debris blocking streets.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves pledged to rebuild after the devastation, with Union Island bearing the brunt of the damage. The evacuation of Union Island residents to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines paints a grim picture of the storm’s impact. The trail of destruction left by Beryl evoked painful memories of past hurricanes, with Roy O’Neale, a Grenadian resident, reflecting on the eerie howling of the wind and flying tree branches reminiscent of Hurricane Ivan 20 years prior.
As communities braced for the worst, hundreds sought refuge in shelters across the southeast Caribbean, including a group in Grenada, highlighting the importance of preparedness and safety during such disasters. Amid the wreckage caused by Beryl, U.N. Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized the urgent need to address the escalating climate crisis, with his homeland of Carriacou serving as a stark example of the devastation wrought by the storm.
Grenada, renowned for its nutmeg production, faced significant losses in the northern part of the island, impacting the spice industry. The resilient spirit of individuals like O’Neale, who rebuilt his home after Hurricane Ivan, stands as a testament to the strength of communities in the face of nature’s fury. The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and destructive force of natural disasters, urging nations to prioritize disaster preparedness and resilience in the face of an increasingly volatile climate.
