- Lessons from Beryl: St Vincent Prepares for 2025 Hurricane Season
As the commencement of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season approaches in a mere 39 days, citizens of St Vincent and the government are diligently engaging in preparatory measures.
On July 1, 2024, Hurricane Beryl, a formidable category 4 hurricane, struck the Grenadines with devastating force, resulting in significant destruction, claiming 9 lives.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves stated that his government has already allocated the catastrophe drawdown funds in anticipation of potential emergencies.
A “catastrophic drawdown option”, or Cat DDO, is a financial tool used to provide immediate liquidity to countries in the aftermath of a natural disaster or public health emergency.
“Just in case of any disaster, you know, $54 million plus I have from the contingency fund and bits and pieces elsewhere. So, while I’m fixing Beryl and the residue from Soufriere, I think, in about June.”
“Long ago they taught us that June was too soon, but it’s not too soon now. July is standby, but Beryl mashes us up. October is all over. On the 31st of October, we know what happened with Thomas and Down in December, Christmas Eve 2013.”
The category 4 hurricane wrought havoc upon Union Island and Mayreau, resulting in significant losses across Canouan, Bequia, and the principal island of St Vincent.
On Union Island, a staggering 90 percent of the residences were obliterated.
The economic repercussions of Hurricane Beryl on St Vincent and the Grenadines are estimated at US$ 230.6 million, representing a significant 21.6% of the nation’s GDP for the year 2023.
