Hurricane Beryl posed a significant threat to Jamaica as it advanced with Category 4 strength, having already caused substantial damage and fatalities across the southeast Caribbean. In preparation, Kingston residents boarded up windows, fishermen secured their boats, and workers protected roadside structures. Beryl was predicted to maintain major hurricane strength when it moved across Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac, according to an active hurricane warning.
Beryl was expected to pass across Jamaica on Wednesday, the Cayman Islands on Thursday, and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on Friday. She was also predicted to decrease somewhat but stay extremely powerful. The storm still offered serious threats, including potentially fatal winds, storm surges up to nine feet (2.7 meters), and intense rains, even if the wind speeds had somewhat decreased from their peak. Jamaicans should plan for evacuation from flood-prone regions without giving way to fear, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center responded by highlighting Jamaica's vulnerability and advising its citizens to find safe haven. The storm's effects were felt throughout the Caribbean, where rescue operations in Carriacou and Grenada confirmed fatalities. Northern Venezuela also saw severe flooding as a result of Beryl's strong rainfall, which resulted in further injuries and major displacement.
