The hurricane season is upon us in the Caribbean!

The season began June 1st and will end in November. The paek of the season is in August and September when most of the major hurricanes are formed.

However, for the first time in history, a major hurricane developed in June, and has so far wreaked havoc on many of the Caribbean islands.

On June 28, 2024, a tropical depression was formed in the Atlantic Ocean from a disturbance coming off the coast of Africa.

The depression began with winds of 35 mph for the first twenty-four hours but quickly increased to wind speed of 75 mph, which turned it into a hurricane.

Within another twenty-four hours, Beryl intensified rapidly into a major Category Four (4) hurricane with a wind speed of 150 mph.

With this strength, the hurricane made its first landfall on Carriacou Island on July 1, 2024, after bypassing east southeast of Barbados.

The weather experts state that the rapid intensification of the hurricane is due to the warm ocean waters which increases its strength, and the lack of wind shear in the area which tends to inhibit wind development.

The outer bands of the hurricane brought storm-force winds, and heavy rains to the island of Barbados, damaging fishing vessels and coastal vessels.

The hurricane flattened the Carriacou island and significantly damaged other neighboring Islands of Grenada such as Petite Martinique, St Vincent, and the Grenadines

Heavy rains brought flooding to Cumanacoa, Venezuela.

Hurricane Beryl continued to tear through the Caribbean heading toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

On Thursday, July 4, 2024, the hurricane passed the south of Jamaica creating severe damage to the southern parishes such as Clarendon, Manchester, and St Elizabeth.

The hurricane killed at least two people in Jamaica and caused severe destruction to power lines, buildings, agricultural crops, and trees.

Hundreds of people have lost their roofs and thousands of people are without electricity and water.

The hurricane weakened as it passed Jamaica to a category three but can still produce horrific damages.

The hurricane raced towards Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula where it caused damages to coastal areas.

Since Thursday (July 4, 2024), the death toll from Beryl rose to at least eleven people. We pray that the Lord will strengthen and comfort the family.

But, the storm is not over as yet because, although wakened, is heading towards Texas and is expecting to make landfall as a Category One (1) hurricane early Monday morning (July 8, 2024)

Thousands of people are fleeing the Texas coastline and many are making preparations.

You can read more information about the path of this storm at the National Hurricane Center.

HELP for the victims of hurricane Beryl!

We are living in a world filled with trials and torment but we are also living in a world filled with good people who sacrificed their lives to help the poor and needy.

Many of these people are generously sending help to the people who have been affected by hurricane Beryl through organizations such as Airlink, AmeriCares, American Red Cross, Food for the Poor, World Central Kitchen, and Convoy of Hope.

You can donate to these organizations through this link at CNN.

Let us Pray

Mighty God,

We believe that nothing is impossible for you and there is nothing too hard for you.

So we put before you all the victims of this hurricane which is still threatening and creating damage to other places.

We know that you are greater than hurricanes and all natural disasters. We know that you can calm the storm and halt the raging winds.

Lord, we acknowledge our sins before you and we ask that you forgive us.

We surrender our lives before you, knowing that it is not your will that anyone should perish.

Lord, we pray that you will rescue the perishing and care for dying. Help them in this distressing time of need.

Lord, we cry unto you to break up this monster storm and send it across open waters where it will not affect land or people.

Lord, strengthen the people of the Caribbean who have been affected by the storm and give them the resilience to get back on their feet and rebuild.

Lord, we also ask you to strengthen the people of Texas where this storm is heading. Remove fear and replace it with hope and determination so that they can be properly prepared.

Have mercy Lord! In Jesus name, Amen.

This hurricane reminds me of the devastating storm that raged through the Virgin Islands in 2017 – Hurricane Irma. It was horrific, but God!

The Lord took us through that awful period of our lives. We rebuild but many people have forgotten.

This storm is a reminder that we must continue to pray and trust the Lord.

Continue to pray for the victims of this storm. Please help if it is in the power of your hands to do so.

Source: Climate.gov; IOM; Jamaica Observer; USA Today; New York Times;