Hurricane Beryl

On 28 June Hurricane Beryl formed in the Atlantic Ocean. Beryl was the second named storm, turning out to be the first major life-threatening hurricane of 2024. With record breaking sea surface temperatures in Hurricane Alley, on average hotter than any time on record. The storm began rapidly intensifying as it moved west through the central tropical Atlantic.

On July 1, Beryl made landfall on the island of Carriacou in Grenada as a high-end Category 4 hurricane, causing extensive damage. The hurricane intensified further as it entered the Caribbean Sea, peaking as a Category 5 hurricane.

Beryl reached wind speeds of 252 km per hour, followed by days of down pour and tropical storms. Causing catastrophic damage on Grenada's northern islands of Carriacou, Petite Martinique and on several of Saint Vincent and the Grenadine's southern islands such as Union Island, Mayreau and Canouan where structures were destroyed or damaged. These islands located in the Lesser Antilles, Eastern Caribbean are home to thousands of stray dogs, many left to fend for themselves during the disaster.

Leaving a trail of mass destruction throughout the Lesser Antilles it continued its powerful force through the Caribbean Sea, roaring over Jamacia causing flash flooding and wreckage where dogs have been washed away on hurricane rapids holding on to their dear lives. The horror hurricane passed over Cayman Islands then reached mainland Mexico and ending up in Texas.

The ‘natural’ disaster or could we say a contribution of human doings ‘global warming’, has left local people and animals without homes, shelter, basic needs including food, water, power and connections. Local businesses have been destroyed and boats run aground and some thrown by the strong winds halve a kilometre away from their berths.

Thousands of animals injured, disoriented or killed. Horrifying some dogs and goats were left to face the terroir tethered while their ‘owners’ (which I use that turn loosely) evacuated to safer grounds.

A total of up to 33 human fatalities have been reported, some still missing and preliminary damage estimates are more than $1 billion. The people and animals that survived the deadly blow now face a new set of survival challenges ahead living in the disaster zone in tents, without basic needs or medical attention while they face the massive clean-up.

The disaster zone requires all the help they can get to rebuild vital infrastructures, restore volunteer animal care centres, replace damaged medical equipment, provide essential supplies including food and medical treatments. Work is underway to support pet owners to rebuild safe structures and ensuring the safety and well-being of their animals including all stray dogs of on the island while assisting the community with immediate relief.

Hurricane Beryl hit many of the beautiful islands Sailing Paws Rescue provides supports, outreach and rescue operations. Direct donations or supplies can be made to Carriacou Animal Hospital in Grenada, Mayreau Animal Protection and Salty Paws SVG Animal Rescue and Clinic Union Island in the Grenadines. Together we can help re-build these vital animal rescue centres that provide essential provisions, rescue operations and improve the safety and foundations for all animals of the islands.

Sailing Paws Rescue 🐾