STATE & NATIONAL: On Tuesday, Hurricane Beryl struck with more fierce destructive impact than previously anticipated. Beryl touched down nearest the region of Grenada and Barbados with devastating 130 mph winds that destroyed houses, other structures and , ultimately, ended the lives of 4 Grenadines.
Hurricane force winds are 130 mph…making it a very dangerous hurricane . We still need to be extremely vigilant…Prime Minister Mia Mottley stated that Barbadian’s should, “… please, take head and do not place in danger anyone else’s life.”
By Anne M Erbynstein
“Having seen it myself, there is really nothing that could prepare you to see this level of destruction. It is almost Armageddon-like. Almost total damage or destruction of all buildings…” —Grenada Prime Minister, Dickson Mitchel
Following the undocumented devastation that Beryl caused the city of Grenada just east ofthe Caribbean, the intense 150mph wind hurricane continues to travel northwestward to ward Jamaica while, also striking upon the Dominican Republic , at this time. at a velocity of 22 mph.
According to the most recent weather reports, Beryl is traveling, now, at nearly 25mph along a northwestern path. With the Islands of Jamaica and, possibly, Haiti in the storm’s pathway, Beryl is, also, expected to, quite possible, destined to end its plight-some flight, on the southern coastal region of Texas—the Padre Island/Corpus Christi area.
Hardest hit by the Category 4 storm that, in the course of its traverse across the Caribbean, increased to a Category 5, are the regions of St Vincent, Petite Martinique, the Cancouan Union Islands and Carriacou.
Hurricane Beryl interrupted plans for the Vincy Mas Carnival; an annual celebration on St Vincent Islands at Grenada. Residents in St Vincent were flooded out if their homes, structures ripped apart by heavy winds. The community is now assessing the damage and the possibility of fatality that may have resulted from the regions mist devastating hurricane of the decade.
During a news conference held today, GrenDa’s Prime Minister, Dickson Mitchell delivered comments in regard to Beryl’s destruction stating that the city of Carriacou had been leveled to the ground with 98% destruction. PM Mitchel stated that in addition to private and public building’s destruction, Beryl has destroyed an entire season of agriculture.
In the SVG, Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, commented, tearfully, about the very evident devastation. In St Vincent as in Grenada, both Gonzalves and Mitchel have felt the pain of having their entire crop of vegetation completely wiped out.
Residents in the multi-Island territories in the western region ofthe Caribbean have given their account of the events that occurred stating that they had only the roof top of their home left. One woman spoke with news reporters to ask for help for her pregnant daughter whose house was wrecked by Beryl and the younger woman would not be able to leave her roofless home without rescue.
Today, officials in the region are continuing to provide search and rescue efforts as an investigation and assessment of the storm is conducted.
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