Hurricane Beryl
Support communities impacted by Hurricane Beryl today.
Hurricane Beryl has already made history as one of the strongest and earliest climate change-fueled storms in a hurricane season and serves as an ominous warning for climate emergencies to come. Your urgent support saves lives and helps create a more equitable future for those who need relief most across the globe.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE | 2024
What damage did Hurricane Beryl cause in the Caribbean?
Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 storm to form in the Atlantic, leaving a trail of devastation across the Caribbean, Mexican Gulf and Texas. Many saw incredible destruction to homes and infrastructure, widespread power outages, and tons of debris. The storm’s devastating impact created urgent humanitarian needs across sectors with thousands requiring emergency shelter, electricity, food, clean water, sanitation, and health services.
While officials say Jamaica avoided a catastrophic scenario, thousands were impacted and lacked immediate relief and recovery solutions. Powerful winds downed power lines, uprooted trees, and ripped roofs off homes in southern communities. Many are still living in makeshift or severely damaged homes, leaving them exposed and vulnerable to the stormy season.
Hurricane Beryl caused total destruction on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada. With over 90% of buildings destroyed and widespread damage to homes, residents of Carriacou urgently needed debris removal services, as many still lack access to functional roads, homes, and hospitals. Communities in northern Grenada, including St. Patrick and Sauteurs, sustained less damage to homes than in Carriacou due to more durable construction, but low-income community members required immediate support to repair their homes.
How has CORE helped support those impacted by Hurricane Beryl?
Based on our previous hurricane response work in the Caribbean, CORE’s emergency response team immediately deployed Jamaica and Grenada in wake of the storm.
Our teams were on the ground coordinating with community members, leaders, partners, and local governments to identify and address urgent needs and recovery solutions for lower income communities on both islands.
Before Beryl made landfall in Jamaica, CORE, in partnership with Southern Command, sent a 40–foot container of hygiene kits, thousands of tarps, and additional critical supplies to Kingston Port. In addition to carrying out relief supply distributions, we tarped homes to protect vulnerable residents, such as small farmers, fishers, and those without work, from further damage and help stabilize their living conditions.
In Grenada, CORE implemented a Cash for Work debris removal program to help clear the fallen trees, building materials, and other wreckage blocking access to homes and roads. We employed community members—mainly students, small business owners, and carpenters—to lead the efforts. This dual approach is vital in stabilizing disaster-stricken areas; it enables residents to rebuild their lives with both immediate financial support and improved living conditions.
