Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, is making its way toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, leaving a trail of devastation in Grenada. The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, described the destruction on Carriacou and Petite Martinique islands as “unimaginable” and “total.”
“We have to rebuild from the ground up,” said Prime Minister Mitchell after visiting the ravaged islands. Around 98 percent of the buildings, including Carriacou’s Princess Royal Hospital, the airport, and marinas, have been damaged or destroyed. The islands are without electricity and communications, and fallen trees and utility poles litter the streets.
The natural environment also suffered greatly. “There is literally no vegetation left anywhere on the island of Carriacou, the mangroves are totally destroyed,” Mitchell noted.
Despite the severe damage, the death toll remains relatively low, with three deaths reported in Grenada, two on Carriacou. Additionally, there was one death in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and three in northern Venezuela, as reported by President Nicolás Maduro.
Beryl, which peaked as a Category 5 storm, is expected to remain a major hurricane as it approaches Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has imposed a 12-hour curfew starting at 6 a.m. and issued evacuation orders for low-lying areas. In the Cayman Islands, residents are preparing for the storm, with hardware stores rationing sandbags and businesses like Cayman Cabana in George Town taking measures to protect their properties. Hurricane warnings are also in effect for parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including Costa Maya, Tulum, Cozumel and Cancún.
Grenada’s main island also experienced significant damage, though the destruction on Carriacou and Petite Martinique is far worse. Officials are still assessing the extent of the damage to the power grid and water supply. Grenada relies heavily on rainwater harvesting for drinking water, and many households have been using desalination plants due to a recent dry spell. These plants may have been affected by the hurricane.
UNICEF Eastern Caribbean video showed a storm surge affecting the southern coast of Barbados, alongside potent winds hitting St. Lucia. Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in Barbados has reported power outages and flooding in various areas.
To aid in Grenada’s recovery efforts, Prime Minister Mitchell shared an Instagram post detailing wire transaction instructions for the Government of Grenada Natural Disaster Fund. This fund is for relief assistance for Petite Martinique, Carriacou, and Grenada following the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl. Please refer to the flyer for detailed information on USD, CAD, and GBP/EUR transactions.
Hurricane Beryl has set records as the earliest Category 4 and Category 5 storm in the Atlantic season.
