Hurricane Beryl: Shelters remain open in Grenada, St Vincent

– talks underway on potential impact of another tropical hazard

Following the passage of Hurricane Beryl, the focus is now on assisting Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada and Bequia, Union Island, Canouan and Mayreau in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that were severely hit.
Assessments continue in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to determine damage and inform response and early recovery actions. Nevertheless, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) as well as the regional and international partners continue to support the ongoing response efforts being coordinated through the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM).
Presently, some 52 shelters that were set up in St. Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and 13 in Grenada remain open for individuals seeking assistance due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl. About 1111 persons are occupying the shelters in St. Vicent and the Grenadines while another 260 are being attended to in shelters across Grenada.
The shelters are located in cities that were severely affected by the hurricane including Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada.
According to a recent report issued by the CDEMA, these facilities provide safe housing and access to food and sanitary supplies for vulnerable persons including the elderly and children. There is still a need for food supplies as it is a challenge for local suppliers to provide the quantities required.
Further, limited electricity is available on Carriacou and Petite Martinique but the situation is improving as generators were sent to both islands to increase power generation capacity. With respect to water, both Carriacou and Petite Martinique benefitted from the distribution of bottled water to reduce the risk of diseases borne out of poor water quality.
Over in St. Vincent, approximately 80 per cent of power was restored in certain areas and this is anticipated to be fully repaired within the next two weeks. In some areas such as Union Island, there is still limited power supply and the company has indicated that they are waiting for conditions on the island to improve before workers are allowed to undertake the requisite restoration of the electricity infrastructure.
Moreover, 200 volunteers are currently assisting with cleanup efforts on both islands, including 50 Guyanese soldiers.
However, following the devastation, psycho-social support is being provided to the residents of Grenada while talks are taking place with key stakeholders on the potential impact of another tropical hazard during the current season. In addition, discussions for a contingency plan are taking place to prepare for any eventuality.
On July 1, categorised as the earliest Category 5 hurricane before decreasing to Category 4, Beryl caused widespread devastation in Grenada, severely impacting the islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique, where 70 per cent and 97 per cent of buildings were damaged or destroyed, respectively. It was reported too that the disaster also destroyed the country’s livestock, permanent crops, and cash crops.
Beryl also wreaked havoc in Barbados, St. Lucia, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago – countries with large Guyanese diasporas.
In fact, over 38000 Guyanese residing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Barbados, and Trinidad were reportedly affected by the devasting Beryl, which has killed at least ten people.
The catastrophic storm came as Grenada was preparing to host the 47th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government from July 3 to 5 at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort Hotel, Grand Anse – just outside the St. George’s capital.
The meeting, which comes as Grenada takes over the CARICOM Chairmanship, has since been rescheduled to July 28 to 30 in St. George’s.
Since Hurricane Beryl’s impact across the region, the Guyana Government, as well as the local private sector and other NGOs, have been mobilising support to make much-needed and critical donations to the affected countries.