Extensive property damage expected from Hurricane Beryl

With just about 12 hours before Hurricane Beryl is predicted to make landfall on St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), individuals and businesses are racing to make last minute preparations for the Category Four system.

Vincentians are being told to prepare for the worst as the impact of the hurricane is expected to be felt sometime between 8 am and 10 am on Monday, July 1.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves addressed the nation at a 10 am press briefing on Sunday June 30 where he warned that the system will cause extensive property damage.

“This is a major hurricane. This is not a joke. We see what major hurricanes have done nearby to Grenada with Hurricane Ivan, and what has happened to Dominica in 2017 with Hurricane Maria, though Category Five in those cases. But the point I want to make, I want to repeat, this hurricane is intensifying.”

In Kingstown this afternoon, persons were finalizing hurricane preparations at supermarkets and gas stations. Business owners boarded up storefronts and placed sandbags at entrances. Up to six inches of rainfall is expected in The City from Hurricane Beryl.

Fisherman at Lowman’s Bay also took precautions against the hurricane, hauling boats inland. Marine conditions are expected to be very rough and hazardous with sea-swells exceeding 4.0m (13ft) and possibly higher ~8.0m (26ft), near the center of Beryl during Monday. Storm surges are possible across SVG. Large and destructive waves and swells are likely to cause life- threatening surf and rip currents.

PM Gonsalves cautioned members of the public to be off the roads by 7 pm.  Hurricane shelters are to be activated by 6 pm.