After surviving Hurricane Beryl’s devastating passage across Union Island, Katrina Coy and other residents described the widespread destruction. Coy emphasized that nearly every building on the island off St Vincent and the Grenadines was either destroyed or severely damaged.
She conveyed in a video message, “Union Island is in a dire state post-Beryl. Almost the entire island is without homes. Houses are flattened, roads blocked, and electricity poles lie strewn across the streets.”
Read more: Hurricane Beryl Heads to Jamaica, Causing Floods
Sebastien Sailly, a fisherman and longtime resident, lamented the loss, stating, “Everything is gone. I have nowhere to live now.”
Reflecting on Hurricane Beryl Ivan in 2004, he compared Beryl’s impact, describing it as akin to a tornado erasing 90% of the island. Sailly recounted sheltering with his family, unsure if they would survive.
His cousin, Alizee, who runs a local hotel, recounted the harrowing experience of barricading doors and windows against the fierce winds and gusts.
“The pressure was so intense that it affected our ears. We could hear roofs tearing apart and crashing into nearby buildings. There were windows breaking and flooding,” Sebastien described the terrifying experience. “No one anticipated it would be this severe; everyone is deeply shaken.”
Sebastien, who works as an organic farmer, beekeeper, and fisherman, suffered complete destruction of his two farms and beehives. He emphasized that the immediate priority for the community is finding shelter. People are scrambling to gather wood and plastic sheets to create makeshift accommodations for their families. “And obviously, sourcing water and food is going to be challenging,” he added.
Alizee Sailly highlighted the urgent need for various supplies on Union Island, including canned food, powdered milk, sanitary products, first-aid kits, and tents.
With power and communications networks still offline, she has only been able to send messages using the Starlink network launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines acknowledges the severity of the situation. In a morning address, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves expressed the profound shock felt across the Caribbean nation: “Hurricane Beryl – a dangerous and devastating hurricane – has caused immense destruction, pain, and suffering across our country.”
He pledged swift action to address the extensive post-hurricane challenges facing his administration. However, there is skepticism on Union Island about the government’s capacity to respond adequately. Sebastien remarked, “I hope they can send us military and coastguard assistance. Rebuilding the island seems daunting; it will require billions, take a year or more, and necessitate international aid.”
Katrina Coy, director of the Union Island Environmental Alliance, urged the Caribbean diaspora to provide any possible assistance. “We urgently need help – emergency supplies, food, evacuation support – all are crucial right now.”
For years, Ms. Coy has worked tirelessly on Union Island’s water security, a vital concern for small island communities in the Caribbean. Sadly, her international colleagues note, much of this work has been undone by Hurricane Beryl.
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Monday as a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h). Thousands remain without electricity, and many are in temporary shelters across St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and St Lucia.
Despite widespread chaos and homelessness across the island, Sebastien Sailly expressed gratitude that conditions were not worse. “The most important thing is that we are alive, not the material losses,” he emphasized. “After witnessing the devastation, today I am just thankful to see my neighbors still here.”
