Views of the Grenadine Islands After Hurricane Beryl

So much work still remains in spring 2025 after Hurricane Beryl made its devastating landfall in Carriacou, Union, and Mayreau in late summer 2024. Here are some pictures that capture the damage. From a visit I made, February 13 - March 13.

Along the waterfront in Clifton Harbor, Union Island, The Grenadines, February 2025. Pier partially destroyed and crumbling. Many buildings, like these, still missing roofs and upper stories. Windows blown out, walls badly compromised.

A building in the tiny village of New Brunswick, on the island of Carriacou, the Grenadine Islands, March, 2025. Only half of it remains and what’s left is in pretty bad shape.

A cafe where little remains but a few signs reminding people that once this was a thriving business. Carriacou, the Grenadine Islands, March 2025.

Recently I returned from a month’s visit to the remote Caribbean islands of the Grenadines and witnessed firsthand the immense damage caused by Hurricane Beryl when it made landfall on June 28, 2024. I also saw the enormous rebuilding and restoration efforts and the great spirit of island residents to tackle overwhelming circumstances. Among the islands that suffered most were Carriacou, Mayreau, and Union where almost the entire housing stock was destroyed or badly damaged, infrastructure was destroyed, fisherman lost their boats, roads became impassable.

One of the things I learned was how important, how fundamental, it is to get roofs back on the houses and businesses as fast as possible. Even though I knew that fresh drinking water is collected by a rooftop system of gutters feeding cisterns when it rains, I didn’t connect the dots. No roofs, no drinking water. Buildings without roofs cannot collect drinking water. Right now, for example, on the island of Union, most of the drinking and bathing water is still being delivered by ferries and freighters from far away. On the island of Carriacou, some people can collect their own water again but many cannot.

I also learned that building materials are in short supply as people rebuild themselves or get in long cues for skilled people working in the trades - carpenters, electricians, masons, etc. When they can get their roofs up, they protect themselves from the elements as well as protecting the construction they’ve already got going on. It’s a slow process.

A new friend, Godfrey, explained to me that he was desperately trying to finish restoring his roof by the end of March because that was a deadline the electrical utility had for restoring his power. If he didn’t meet the deadline, it could be months before his house would be hooked up for electricity.