Hurricane Beryl began on the 28 th of June, 2024, in the deep tropical Atlantic and was a Category-5 hurricane on July 1, 2024, and made its landfall in Grenada and the Grenadines.
Hurricane Beryl Update stated that It intensified further; the highest wind speeds and the lowest air pressure in the Caribbean Sea occurred on July 2.
The storm weakened to a Category 1 storm after a brief, and moved back into the Atlantic, strengthened back to a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, Texas, with 80 mph winds.
Beryl then reduced its strength and dissipated to a tropical depression over Louisiana before developing into an extratropical cyclone over the Northeast United States on July 9.
Impact on Texas
Hurricane Beryl Update also reveals losses that it left in Texas, it struck near Matagorda, Texas on July 8, 2024 as category 1 hurricane.
It had gusts up to 80 mph and led to development of numerous twisters resulting in destruction and floods.
Initial projections indicate that Texas may lose more than $2.5 billion making this one of the costliest storms since Hurricane Harvey of 2017.
People are still trying to recover and repair after a hurricane that hit this area in Houston most seriously.
The city is still in the dark for over 1.3 million people but many local officials and utility companies are working hard to restore the power.
Power Outages and Restoration Efforts
According to Hurricane Beryl Update, it caused power outages for over 1.3 million people because of strong winds and bad weather.
The outages were big and spread out, especially in Houston, where fixing power was hard.
Utility companies are trying to fix the problem by sending teams to check damage and fix broken lines, with a special focus on important places and people who need help.
Casualties and Damage Estimates
Hurricane Beryl Update shows that it has caused a lot of damage and deaths in the Caribbean and parts of the Gulf Coast in the US.
In the Caribbean, more than 70 people died, with Grenada and Saint Vincent being hit the hardest.
According to Hurricane Beryl Update, the storm also caused about $1 to $1.5 billion in damage to the Windward Islands, with Jamaica and the Cayman Islands having less damage, about $1 billion.
Before hitting Texas, Beryl also affected the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, but the damage there was not as bad because the storm didn’t hit the busy hotel and resort area.
In Texas, Beryl caused over $2.5 billion in damage, with Houston being the worst affected area.
Role of Amateur Radio Operators
Hurricane Beryl Update shows that during Hurricane, amateur radio operators were key in keeping communication lines open, sharing important updates and reports with emergency management.
They used networks like the Hurricane Watch Net and VoIP Hurricane Net for quick, real-time updates on damage, flooding, and other effects.
This helped in organizing disaster response and recovery efforts, showing how crucial it is to have strong communication networks during emergencies.
NOAA Predictions for Hurricane Season
According to the Hurricane Beryl Update, NOAA expects more hurricanes in 2024 with 17 to 25 named storms, of which 8 to 13 will be hurricanes and 4 to 7 being major hurricanes.
This is due to the fact that ocean water is normally warm and there is backing from these features known as La Niña which assist in the creation of storms.
Hurricane Beryl update shows the conditions are anticipated to be even more favorable for storm formation, which is a threat for the coastlines of US and Caribbean regions.
International Aid and Support
After Hurricane Beryl hit, countries in the Caribbean, especially Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, received help from around the world.
The European Union gave almost “€1 million” for urgent needs like housing, medical care, and clean water.
The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) gave “$800,000” to five countries for immediate help.
The UK government gave up to “£500,000” to help with emergency housing and support from local disaster management groups.
Working together, local and international groups have been able to send important supplies and money to those who need it.
Public Health Concerns Post-Hurricane
After Hurricane Beryl Update, there are now health risks for example: water borne illnesses and carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.
The wire services reported flooding and the water systems’ infrastructure thus the general public could not easily access clean water and this causes diseases like stomach flu.
Further, relying on too many generators without adequate supply of fresh air would lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which is a big problem.
People, especially the health officials have advised the communities to boil water and also use generators with proper ventilation.
They are also monitoring diseases transmitted through insects and crowded/unclean areas and advise the people to seek medical attention in case of flu.
After the hurricane Beryl Update and the process of constructing communities, it is essential to have the spirit for raising difficulties.
In emergencies, the society, non-government organization, local and International organizations can truly unity is of essence.
People and communities need to remain vigilant and prepared as the hurricane season is still on.