Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Hurricane Beryl - Operation Update #5 (MDRS2001)

AI Summary

An IFRC operation update details the ongoing recovery efforts across Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines following Hurricane Beryl's devastating Category 5 landfall on July 1, 2024. The storm caused near-total destruction in some areas, displacing thousands and devastating agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. Recovery efforts continue to address food insecurity, infrastructure damage, and economic instability across the affected islands.

Countries: Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. A. SITUATION ANALYSIS Description of the crisis In the months following Hurricane Beryl's devastating passage through the Caribbean, communities across the region continue to grapple with the far reaching consequences of the storm. The unprecedented early season Category 5 hurricane made landfall on July 1, 2024, leaving an extensive trail of destruction across Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, and Barbados. The storm’s immense power stripped roofs from homes, razed entire villages, and severed access to essential services, intensifying pre-existing vulnerabilities among affected populations. In Grenada, the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique were hardest hit, with 98 percent1 of structures rendered uninhabitable and critical infrastructure, including power and water supply, decimated. Thousands of residents were displaced and forced to seek refuge with relatives or in temporary shelters. The widespread destruction placed immense pressure on healthcare services already struggling with post-pandemic recovery, while the collapse of tourism and agriculture, the island’s economic backbone, dealt a severe blow to livelihoods and economic stability. The situation in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was equally dire, with the southern Grenadine islands of Union Island, Canouan, and Mayreau experiencing near-total devastation. More than 90 percent of homes were either severely damaged or destroyed, displacing thousands. The agricultural sector, a key pillar of the local economy, suffered catastrophic losses, with 98 percent of banana and plantain crops wiped out.2 The fisheries industry was also decimated, further exacerbating food insecurity and economic instability. The compounded impact of these losses, combined with pre-existing socio-economic challenges, placed immense strain on humanitarian efforts to provide relief and support recovery. Although Jamaica avoided a direct hit, the storm’s outer bands brought extensive flooding and wind damage, particularly in the southern parishes of Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, and Manchester. The hurricane claimed four lives and inflicted an estimated USD 15.9 million in damages, with agriculture among the most severely affected sectors.3 Disruptions to education, transportation, and public services have further exposed structural vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness and climate resilience. While Barbados was spared the brunt of Beryl’s force, the island endured heavy rainfall and gale-force winds, resulting in localized flooding and infrastructure damage. The fisheries sector suffered significant losses, with damage to boats, gear, and coastal infrastructure impacting small-scale fishers and vendors. Recovery efforts have focused on restoring these assets to support economic stability and food security. The humanitarian response, led by the National Red Cross Societies with the support of the IFRC, has been vital in delivering emergency relief and setting the stage for long-term recovery. Yet the scale of destruction has prolonged displacement, worsened health concerns, and deepened economic hardship, especially for small island developing states already burdened by post-pandemic pressures and the growing impacts of climate change. A year and a half later, the scars of Hurricane Beryl are clear, but so too is the resilience of Caribbean communities and their Red Cross Societies. Recovery remains a long and complex journey. Thanks to coordinated humanitarian action, regional solidarity, and international backing, affected populations are gradually rebuilding their lives. The need to strengthen disaster preparedness, infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation has never been more urgent as the region faces increasingly severe weather events. This is particularly true as on 28 October 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category Five storm, the strongest hurricane ever to strike Jamaica and one of the most powerful hurricanes to form in the Atlantic Basin. Hurricane Melissa impacted many of the same communities affected by Hurricane Beryl just 15 months prior. To continue supporting Caribbean communities as they continue to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Beryl, strengthen disaster preparedness, and build resilience against the growing threat of climate-related disasters in the region, this emergency appeal has been extended to July 4th, 2026. The extension will also focus on supporting Red Cross Societies build their institutional readiness and response capacities. An emergency appeal for 19M CHF was launched to support the response of the Jamaica Red Cross to the impacts of Hurricane Melissa and so they will not be included in this extension.