The extent of Hurricane Beryl's damage became clearer Friday, as communications were reestablished with the small, storm-ravaged eastern Caribbean islands and relief began to arrive.
The Grenadian islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique sustained the most severe damage when Beryl made landfall Monday as a Category 4 storm and later saw its winds strengthen to a Category 5. About 11,000 people inhabit the two islands.
"The desalination plants have been knocked out; all of the cell towers have been knocked out; all of the fiber optic cables have been knocked out," said Simon Springett, the United Nations resident coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. "The roads are impassable. We probably have about 95% of the housing stock destroyed. And by default, all of the local businesses, all the income-generating activities — and the list goes on."
Beryl is the first Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean in June. The hurricane season runs until November 30 and officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are forecasting 17 to 25 named storms.
Springett, who briefed reporters from Grenada, said communications were only restored with Carriacou Thursday night. About 9,000 people live on the island known for its coral reefs and sandy beaches.
"The entire island is completely affected," he said.
Rough seas hamper delivery of help
Springett said the relief operation has been complicated by extremely rough seas following the hurricane and airport control towers being knocked offline.
"So, there is only fly-by visibility," he said. "Even when things get into the airport, there are no roads to be able to access the goods."
He said a French naval vessel is due to arrive in Carriacou on Friday. Neighbors Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago also have sent support.
The United Nations, which has nine agencies active in Grenada normally, is surging more staff in. Springett said a supply ship would be arriving Saturday from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to bring aid to the outer islands of the Grenadines and then continue to Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Three islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines also were hit badly: Canouan, Union Island and Mayreau. Springett said about 15,500 people live there.
One confirmed death in Jamaica
Beryl hit Jamaica Wednesday. It was the strongest storm there in over a decade, but the island was spared the worst.
Dennis Zulu, U.N. resident coordinator for Jamaica, told reporters on the same briefing call that about 70% of people are without water and 40% without power.
The island is a major tourism destination and Zulu said the government had moved quickly to reopen the main tourist airport at Montego Bay and to clear road access to resorts.
"From preliminary assessments, very little harm came to the infrastructure in terms of tourist hotels and resorts," Zulu said. "So that is really positive."
He said at least one person was confirmed dead in Jamaica from Beryl and a flash flood warning remains in effect. There was damage to homes, but some government shelters were shutting after people had returned home.
"Jamaica is up and running, if I may say that, and the government is moving seriously to ensure that," Zulu said.
The United Nations has made an initial allocation of $1.5 million from its emergency fund for Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Another $2.5 million has been allocated for Jamaica.
