Lessons from Hurricane Beryl

THE EDITOR, Madam:

One year ago, Hurricane Beryl came sweeping in, battering Jamaica’s southern coastline. As we reflect on the storm’s impact, it is crucial that we take stock of what we have learned and what more must be done to be better prepared.

According to reports, at least four people died as a result of the hurricane’s passage. More than 1,800 people were forced into shelters across the island and communities were left without power, water, or communications. The JPS reported that over 400,000 customers lost electricity, which was more than 60 per cent of its customer base at the time.

The Planning Institute of Jamaica estimated that the country sustained J$32.2 billion in total damage, which represented about 1.1 per cent of Jamaica’s gross domestic product. General infrastructure absorbed nearly half of this figure, with J$10.3 billion in damage to roads and bridges, J$4.1 billion to the electricity network, and significant losses also reported in water supply and public buildings. The agriculture sector saw a sharp contraction of 13.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2024, and the mining sector declined by over 15 per cent. Even tourism, which has historically proven resilient, suffered a 2.1 per cent drop. These sectoral impacts contributed to a national economic contraction of 2.8 per cent for the quarter.

Beryl’s arrival so early in the hurricane season was also alarming. According to the Miami Herald, Beryl was the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic. Scientists have pointed to record warm sea-surface temperatures as a major factor in the storm’s rapid intensification, a trend consistent with global climate change. This is no longer a distant threat. As a Caribbean island, Jamaica is already living the realities of a changing climate, with stronger storms, unpredictable rainfall, and rising sea levels putting our infrastructure, economy, and communities at risk.

The lessons from Beryl are clear. First, we must improve the speed and reach of our early warning systems, ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to accurate, real-time information and are supported in evacuation efforts. Second, we need to invest in more resilient infrastructure, particularly in the power, water, and transport sectors. It is unacceptable that so many communities were cut off from emergency services during and after the hurricane. Third, we need to strengthen our economy’s ability to absorb climate shocks by diversifying our agricultural base, supporting micro and small enterprises, and establishing robust contingency funds. And, finally, we must accelerate our climate adaptation efforts, including reforestation, mangrove restoration, and the enforcement of building codes in flood-prone and coastal areas.

One year after Beryl, we remember those who lost their lives and the many more who are still recovering. But remembrance must be accompanied by action. Climate change is no longer a future risk, it is our present reality.

JUVELLE TAYLOR