Public Health Situation Analysis of Hurricane Beryl in Jamaica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Hurricane Beryl, the first major hurricane of the 2024 season, formed on 28 June in the Atlantic Ocean and set records as the earliest Category 5 storm recorded in the North Atlantic Ocean (1,2). Beryl made landfall in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a high-end Category 4 storm, packing sustained winds of over 150 mph (240 km/h), and causing extensive damage to infrastructure, services, and livelihoods (3). On 3 July 2024, Hurricane Beryl, with sustained winds of over 140 mph, moved adjacent to Jamaica's southern coastline, passing 25 miles (40 km) off Alligator Pond, with its eyewall skirting the island (4). More than 3 million people were potentially exposed to the storm in the three countries. This document provides a summary of the main public health risks identified in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. |