KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica is bracing for the passage of the monstrous and deadly Hurricane Beryl that is expected to impact the island by midday on Wednesday after causing death and destruction earlier this week in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that a state of emergency (SOE) has been declared and that a curfew will be in effect to ensure the safety of people and prevent them from engaging in criminal activities.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the category four hurricane is located 185 miles east southeast of the capital, Kingston, with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour (mph).
“Beryl is moving toward the west-northwest near 20 mph, and this general motion should continue through today, followed by a turn more toward the west tonight or Thursday,” the NHC said, adding that “on the forecast track, the center of Beryl will rush across the central Caribbean Sea and is forecast to pass near or over Jamaica later today.
“The center is expected to pass near or over the Cayman Islands tonight or early Thursday and move over the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico early Friday.”
It said that while some weakening is forecast during the next day or two, Beryl is predicted to be at or near major hurricane intensity while it passes near Jamaica later today and the Cayman Islands tonight or early Thursday.
“Additional weakening is expected after that, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean,” the NHC said.
As Jamaicans prepare for the storm, Prime Minister Holness warned against price gouging and that the Minister responsible for Commerce “will also make an order…to prevent price gouging of essential goods during a disaster”.
Holness outlined several measures being undertaken by his administration to alleviate challenges likely to be faced by the public in the event of a disaster, including a future policy to prevent price gouging and the granting of toll-free access to the east, north, and south highways to facilitate travel as preparations continue for the arrival of the hurricane.
“There will be a loss of electricity and water. The emergency services will seek to restore water and power as quickly as possible,” Holness said, urging the public to use emergency numbers to report damage and refrain from engaging in illegal activities during the storm’s passage.
Holness said that the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) “will be fully mobilized” to maintain law and order and assist in disaster relief efforts.
Holness, who declared Jamaica a “disaster area,” said the “Cabinet reviewed our plans to manage the threat of the hurricane, and a caucus of Parliament was also briefed on our state of readiness and provisions for emergency response.”
Hes said that a special five-million dollar allocation (One Jamaica dollar = US$0.008 cents) had been allocated to each constituency through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to assist with emergency food and building supplies cases.
Evacuation orders are already in effect for flood and landslide-prone areas, regions at or below sea level, and locations near gullies or waterways. Residents in these areas are urged to evacuate to shelters or safer ground.
“We urge all Jamaicans to comply with notices to evacuate,” said Prime Minister Holness, adding, “Even without a notice, if you live in a low-lying area or near a river or gully, evacuate to the safer ground.”
The NHC said hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast of Jamaica within the warning area around midday, and winds are expected first to reach tropical storm strength later this morning, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
“Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as six to nine feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the immediate coast of Jamaica.
“Beryl is expected to produce rainfall totals of four to eight inches, with localized amounts of 12 inches, across Jamaica through this evening, along with additional rainfall of four to six inches over the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. This heavy rainfall is expected to cause life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides,” the NHC added.
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