Strong winds and rain from Hurricane Beryl devastated the Caribbean island of Jamaica, bringing down trees and seriously damaging structures. The southern shoreline of Jamaica experienced gusts of up to 130 mph (215 km/h) due to the category four hurricane. Pictures posted on social media showed roofs being ripped off by strong gusts and streets flooded with flooding. As the hurricane makes its way through the area, at least seven people have lost their lives. It is now predicted to reach Mexico on Friday after being downgraded to a category three.
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) said it was compelled to postpone the restoration of power lines in some locations taking into consideration the safety of their employees after parts of Jamaica previously experienced disruptions in the supply of energy and power.
Dr. Michael Brennan, the director of the NHC, predicted “devastating hurricane force winds” for Jamaica during a press briefing. In addition to potentially causing flooding and mudslides, the director stated that life-threatening storm surges up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) above tide level are also anticipated in certain areas of the country where rainfall might reach 12 inches (30 cm).
“Everybody in Jamaica needs to be in their safe place and be prepared to stay there for at least the next 12 hours,” cautioned Dr. Brennan.
Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s Minister of Information, stated that the country has 900 shelters available to accommodate individuals who had to leave their houses.
Hurricane Beryl brought in a lot of rain on Venezuela, flooding the northern state of Sucre. A number of people are still missing and three have died.
Residents of Cancún, Mexico, have hurried to stores to stock up on goods in anticipation of Hurricane Beryl, which is scheduled to hit in the coming days resulting in some people finding empty shelves.
The National Hurricane Centre says Beryl will head towards to the Yucatan Peninsula at the end of the week, entering the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical rains are expected in south Texas by the end of the weekend and into next week.
The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to arrive in south Texas – including Brownsville, Corpus Christi and Houston – by Monday morning. Storm-force winds are likely to arrive Sunday morning.
Sandbags are being distributed and some residents are being urged to voluntarily evacuate as officials in some portions of south Texas get ready for the possible effects of Hurricane Beryl.
Those with RVs or other prominent vehicles parked in Cameron County, Texas, county parks are being requested to leave. Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. of Cameron County warned in a statement that the area is in the storm’s path. This includes Adolph Thomae, Jr. Park, Andy Bowie Park, and Isla Blanca Park.
