Hurricane Beryl, the first and strongest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is currently moving through the Caribbean. As of now, hurricane warnings have been issued for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. The storm has already claimed at least six lives across the Caribbean Sea, with rescue crews assessing the damage inflicted on Carriacou, an island in Grenada.
When Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Grenada, it was a Category 4 storm. The powerful winds, flooding, and storm surge caused significant damage to buildings, and according to the prime minister, left many without power.
A family from Houston was vacationing in the southeast part of the island when the storm hit. Hany Elqutub, a member of the family, described the experience as both scary and familiar, having lived through similar situations in Houston. They were staying in a concrete resort, which provided them with food, water, and a generator. Elqutub expressed gratitude for their situation, acknowledging that the local population would likely face a more challenging time.
Elqutub recorded video footage of the hurricane’s landfall, noting the intense winds and high waves. He described the storm as a “big beast” that was extremely windy.
The National Hurricane Center predicts that Hurricane Beryl will hit Jamaica on Wednesday, bringing devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves. The storm is also expected to reach the Cayman Islands on Wednesday night.
