PM Holness Urges Jamaicans to Prepare For Hurricane Beryl

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Jamaicans to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions in anticipation of Hurricane Beryl, expected to impact the island by Wednesday of this week. Holness delivered this warning at the St Andrew South Community Consultative Conference held at the Pembroke Hall High School auditorium on Saturday.

Holness highlighted that various weather models predict adverse weather conditions due to Beryl, which has now intensified into a hurricane. “We expect that by Wednesday morning we will be experiencing such conditions. The relevant agencies will put out the necessary warnings as the system develops. I am merely giving you advanced warning,” he stated.

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) earlier noted that initial forecasts suggest the center of the storm could pass over 150 miles away from the country’s coastline, although there is still a possibility of a direct hit. Regardless, the Met Service advises Jamaicans to prepare for the worst.

According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Centre, Beryl is expected to rapidly strengthen and become a major hurricane by the time it reaches the Windward Islands late Sunday night or Monday, bringing destructive hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge. A hurricane watch is currently in effect for much of the Windward Islands.

Holness emphasized the importance of preparation, advising residents to stock up on essential items such as food, batteries, candles, and water, and to secure critical documents. He also recommended taking actions to safeguard property, such as trimming trees and securing loose items that could become hazards during the storm. “It is always in your best interest to be prepared, and if the weather event passes and there is no impact, you would have lost nothing. But you do not want that impact to occur and you did not prepare for it. It is better to be prepared than to be sorry that you didn’t prepare,” he stressed.

The Prime Minister added that the government, through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Jamaica Defence Force, and other agencies, is already on alert and mobilized to respond to any potential impact from the hurricane.