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- Bequia
  • By Elizabeth Thomas <cabanabequia at gmail.com>
  • Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2024 19:35:30 -0500
Hello. I'm sorry to be taking so long to write. Our house at Spring in Bequia is still without electricity. The week after the hurricane was very frustrating as we didn't have a clue what was going on anywhere with no phone, radio, or internet.
Our house is intact but the tree damage was severe . It took my husband and I two days to cut and drag the trees blocking the road from our house to the junction. When we could finally walk out we got to Port Elizabeth to see if we could find out what was going on. 
We were saddened to hear that Canoaun, Mayreau and Union Islands were flattened. 
We found out that about 20 houses in Bequia were destroyed and about 100 had serious roof damage. I know that there are 55 people in shelter in Bequia with businesses and volunteers helping to support the immediate needs of those people, and many others are staying with family. 
Almost everyone in Union is evacuated, most to St Vincent. It's going to take a lot of grit and perseverance to rebuild.
 On mainland St Vincent there is heavy damage to the banana plantations and many homes with roof damage. I think I heard that there are about 1500 in shelters in St Vincent.
We were booked for a holiday and we're happy when the airport reopened so that we'd be able to take our vacation.
We're currently still in Canada and are hoping that when we fly home next week that the electricity to our home will have been restored.
From what I've heard Mayreau will not have electricity before Christmas and I imagine Union Island will be in the same position.
Bequia is back open for business with almost all the bars, restaurants, hotels and shops open again.
Bequia got off lightly by comparison.
As I'm not on Bequia and was pretty well cut off after the storm, I don't have all the facts or precise numbers, but I thought I should report.
- Fwd: St Vincent - Southern Grenadines
  • By Gert van Dijken <gert at vandijken.com>
  • Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2024 11:32:25 -0700

From: Archimel Sa <archimelas at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 11, 2024 at 4:16 AM
Subject: St Vincent - Southern Grenadines

Beryl devastated the Southern Grenadines, in Canouan the large majority of houses built in wood have been entirely wiped out, the large  majority of concrete block house have lost the roof. The majority of the electrical posts have fallen or are severely damaged. It was impossible to communicate to outside the island for many days after the storm. 
The day after the hurricane, another weather system affected the island, pouring rain for many hours.
It will take many months before life on the island can return similar to normal.
Until then assistance is needed. 
The fund below is especially targeted to help residents of Canouan, providing supplies and assistance directly to the teams of residents on the ground actively dedicated to the relief effort and support to the community. 
Any donation would be appreciated 
Best regards,

Lou
- Beryl
  • By <cabana at vincysurf.com>
  • Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2024 14:50:51 -0400

I think we are as ready as we can be.  When we woke this morning, it was to the news that Beryl was now going to be a Cat 4, which meant we had to up our preparations. Where yesterday we’d just brought in the outdoor furniture, today we spent the day clearing out our upstairs level of the house.  I’m not sure that it’s going to make any difference, but better safe than sorry.  My husband is taking the desktop apart as I write this.  The electrical utility is shutting off the electricity at 6 pm today.  I wonder how long it will be before we have contact with the world outside again.  The Prime Minister said that everybody is to be ‘in place’ by 7pm tonight, and for everyone to get home and get ready whether that be in a safe place in their home or in a shelter.  We have a secure room behind our apartment that is like a bomb shelter, so that’s where we will be.  It’s very scary and very stressful.

 

Please everyone stay safe.

 

Liz

- In Bequia
  • By <cabana at vincysurf.com>
  • Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2024 19:32:20 -0400

For the first time in about 20 years, since Hurricane Ivan in 2004, we have a storm, Beryl, heading directly at us, as a Hurricane.  People are taking it very seriously and battening down early, cleaning up anything loose that could fly.  I hope everybody is aware, the government has put out advisories, so even people that don’t watch the many weather sites, have to know about the storm.  The question is, have we done enough to get ready. 

I pray for everyone in the path and that we will all stay safe.

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