PM Drew: SKN stands with Caribbean nations impacted by historic Category 4 Hurricane Beryl

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew cut short his evening at the iconic post-Music Festival soirée, White Sands, to contact his colleague prime ministers in the south Caribbean islands in the path of Hurricane Beryl. 

Beryl made history over the weekend when it became the first storm since tracking began in the 18070s to form in the month of June. 

Prime Minister Drew, who has become a champion of the international climate change movement, noted that Beryl’s formation and rapid strengthening is a sobering reminder of the impact climate change has on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

“We continue to see the effects of the climate crisis. Hurricane Beryl has formed, making it a rare early storm and the first hurricane for the 2024 season,” said Drew. “Let us keep our sister islands Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and others in Beryl’s path in our prayers. This hurricane season is predicted to be active and may set records. We must remain vigilant and prepared.”

On Sunday evening after it was announced that Beryl had further strengthened into a Category 4 storm, Dr. Drew contacted his colleagues in the region to assure them of St. Kitts and Nevis’ support during and in the aftermath of the storm. 

“I just left White Sands prematurely to communicate with colleague Prime Ministers Gonsalves, Mitchell, Mottley and Pierre of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados and St. Lucia. I informed [them] that St. Kitts and Nevis stands fully with SVG, Grenada, Barbados and St. Lucia, as they brace for the passage of Hurricane Beryl.”

Under the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, a Category 4 storm records winds of 130 – 155 miles per hour. Generally, more severe storms like Beryl bring along with them serious coastal flooding, the destruction of many small structures, and damage to larger structures.

The storm became the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record and the first June major hurricane east of the Lesser Antilles on record. Beryl hit Category 4 status Sunday, but its winds decreased slightly overnight, making it a Category 3 storm Monday. It strengthened again early Monday.

As of the 8am forecast on Monday, Beryl was 70 miles east of Grenada, moving toward the west at nearly 20 mph. The storm was driving maximum sustained winds near 130 mph with higher gusts.

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