Hurricane Beryl Charges Toward Jamaica as a Category 5 Storm
Hurricane Beryl, now deemed a potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm, has targeted Jamaica after resulting in at least one fatality and causing extensive destruction across several Caribbean islands on Monday.
Beryl, a formidable force of nature, is making its way toward Jamaica with an alarming intensity. Classified as a Category 5 storm, Beryl carries with it the potential for unprecedented destruction. The meteorological phenomenon has been closely monitored, with meteorologists predicting its path and potential impact on the Caribbean island.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has encouraged Jamaicans to take the hurricane seriously but insist “it is not a time to panic but to be strategic and calculated in our approach.”
He told Jamaicans that they have 48 hours to prepare, and a lot could change in that time, so “we are taking precautions now. It’s easier to prepare when you’re safe and on your feet than during a hurricane”, he said.
Nevertheless, the Jamaica Observer has shown empty bread shelves and long lines in supermarkets in St. Andrew as Jamaicans prepare for Hurricane Beryl.
Authorities have issued warnings to the public, advising them to secure their homes, stock up on essential supplies, and heed evacuation orders if necessary. The hurricane’s approach is a stark reminder of the devastating power of nature and the importance of preparedness in the face of such natural disasters.
Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman has confidently assured Jamaicans that all preparations are in place to address any impacts from Hurricane Beryl. She stated that Jamaicans can be confident that their safety will be the top priority before, during, and after the storm.
In the coming hours, Jamaica will brace itself for the impact of Hurricane Beryl as it continues to smash records as it took only minutes for Beryl to tear through Grenada on Monday, blasting through buildings and knocking out power and phone service to almost all of the island’s residents, the governor’s office said.
“In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened,” Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said Monday.
A path of “immense destruction, pain (and) suffering” was torn through the neighboring nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where at least one person has been reported dead, said Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. Parts of the islands, including hospitals, have no electricity and others are without water.
About 90% of the homes on the nation’s Union Island are damaged or destroyed, Gonsalves said. Hundreds more homes and several schools, churches and government buildings in St. Vincent also sustained severe damage.
“Tomorrow we get up with our commitment and conviction to rebuild our lives and our families’ lives,” Gonsalves said Monday night~ CNN