Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines: Hurricane Beryl - Flash Update No. 02 (as of 02 July 2024)

KEY MESSAGES

• Beryl further intensified to a category 5 hurricane and is forecasted to make landfall in Jamaica with some potential impact on the southern coasts of Haiti and the Cayman Islands by Wednesday.
• Thousands of Grenadians took refuge in emergency shelters as Hurricane Beryl, the first major storm of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, passed through Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
• The UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean continues to coordinate support to the CDEMA’s Coordinating Unit and The Regional Response Mechanism’s relief and response efforts.
• On 2 July, the multi-disciplinary Rapid Needs Assessment Teams (RNAT) deployed to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines along with members of the UNETT. Additional members and surge deployment of the UN system are on stand-by and ready for deployment.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Hurricane Beryl impacted several countries in the southwestern Caribbean. CDEMA continues coordinating the response efforts, supported by National Emergency Management Coordinators. Various forms of support are being provided to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and its dependents. Assessments have commenced to determine the response level. Additionally, a Level 1 response is ongoing in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, and Dominica.

Thousands of Grenadians took refuge in emergency shelters as Hurricane Beryl, the first major storm of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season made passage through the Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Over 400 people are in 20 shelters across the island of Grenada, which has a population of approximately 108,000.

The National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) in Grenada reports that 52 per cent of the water systems are operational with communication still disrupted in Carriacou, Petite Martinique, and parts of the Northern corridor of Grenada.

Union Island experienced devastating effects as Hurricane Beryl struck St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves reported that 90 per cent of houses were severely damaged or destroyed, with significant roof and structural damage.

Approximately 1,752 persons in SVG are currently in 71 public hurricane shelters. Hundreds of homes on St. Vincent were also severely affected, including government buildings and several churches. Fitz Bramble, MP for East Kingstown, witnessed the hurricane tearing off the roof of Bishop’s College in Kingstown.

Due to telecommunication issues, the full extent of damage in Mayreau and Canouan remains unknown, but similar severe damage is expected. In contrast, Bequia in the northern Grenadines sustained less damage.

Neighbouring countries including Antigua and Barbuda have begun to show solidarity through sending tarpaulins and US$100,000 worth of water. The Government has also sent a contingent of 19 police officers on 2 July from Antigua and Barbuda to Grenada and SVG. The team, comprised of 15 tactical unit members and 4 officers supporting the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit, set sail around 9am aboard Coast Guard vessels from Barbados and St. Vincent. This deployment, expected to last two weeks initially, aims to assist with security, maintain law and order, and support damage assessment efforts.