Louise Amodio’s Post

The past several days has served up significant challenges for the peoples of the Caribbean we call home. It has been a very long since last we experienced such a powerful hurricane as Beryl plough through our region so early in the official hurricane season. At the very end of June, Beryl had served notice that she would have been a strong hurricane, and she did not disappoint. Beryl barrelled through the Carriacou and Petit Martinique as well as the northern part of Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, slighted St Lucia before moving across the Caribbean Sea to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The death toll resulting from the passage of Beryl is small but does not change anything in terms of its impact on the countries of our region.   The path of destruction left in the wake of Beryl’s passage should come as no surprise. Last year was the hottest on record for our planet. We have watched in awe as lake waters evaporated, rivers ran dry, glaciers melted, and sea level rose to threaten the continued existence of some islands. Too many among us have chosen to ignore the dramatic changes spawned by global warming. We have done so at our peril, threatening the life chances of generations as yet unborn.   Perhaps, more than anything else, Beryl is a reminder to all of us of the reality of climate change and its impact on mankind. None is exempt from its ravages. CANOC’s members are predominantly islands whose coastlines are in constant recession while our people live, work and play in increasingly unbearable temperatures.   How much more are we intent on enduring as a people? What hopes do we have for those who come after us? What enduring legacy are we leaving for the future generations? Read Full Article: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eV-8FUP6

Hurricane Beryl is reminding us all in very stark terms of the impact climate change is having on extreme weather patterns. 🥇 Beryl is breaking records - first June hurricane ever to hit Category 5 (yesterday she was the first to hit Cat 4) 🥇 Beryl is the farthest east a storm has ever hit Category 4, 🥇 Beryl is first storm before September to go from tropical depression to major hurricane in under 48 hours. Why is this happening? 🌡  Warm water is fueling Beryl, with ocean heat content in the deep Atlantic the highest on record for this time of year. 🌊 Beryl's ferocity will life-threatening wind speeds and storm surges. 🐠 The Caribbean island's natural defense system - coral reefs - are being destroyed by, among other destructive human behaviors, the same warming waters that are creating more intense hurricanes. Follow Center for Disaster Philanthropy to remain informed and to learn how you can help those in the storm's path. #HurricaneBeryl #Preparedness #Recovery #ClimateChange

Pray for the Caribbean 🙏🏽 Hurricane Beryl has unleashed its fury across the Caribbean, leaving devastation in its wake. After drenching Jamaica with more than a month’s worth of rain and relentless winds, Beryl is now hammering the Cayman Islands. Tragically, the storm has claimed at least eight lives, with one death reported in Jamaica. As a Category 3 hurricane, Beryl is the strongest storm to impact Jamaica in over 15 years and was previously the earliest Category 5 on record in the Atlantic. Beryl is expected to hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as a hurricane by Friday morning and will continue into the Gulf of Mexico, impacting parts of northeastern Mexico and South Texas this weekend. The rapid intensification of Beryl, fueled by abnormally warm ocean waters, is a stark reminder of the severe impacts of global warming. Please stay updated on the storm's path and keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers. #HurricaneBeryl #PrayForTheCaribbean #ClimateChange #StaySafe #GlobalWarming #Caribbean #Jamaica #CaymanIslands #Mexico #Yucatan

Our hearts go out to the people of Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, and other affected islands in the Caribbean who are facing the wrath of Hurricane Beryl. The Category 5 storm has already left a trail of destruction, causing at least one death and widespread devastation across the region. The storm is expected to continue its path of destruction, bringing life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. As the early hurricane season gets off to a devastating start, we are reminded of the urgent need to address climate change and its impact on our planet. Rising ocean temperatures fueled by fossil fuel pollution have contributed to Beryl's alarming strengthening. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the people of the Caribbean as they work to rebuild and recover. How you can help: - Donate to reputable organizations providing aid to affected communities - Share posts to raise awareness about the impact of climate change - Support sustainable practices and advocate for climate action in your community Let's stand together in support of those affected by Hurricane Beryl. #HurricaneBeryl #ClimateAction #CaribbeanStrong #Carifika (Image from Al Jazeera)

With the recent passing of hurricane Beryl in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, remnants of it destruction are evident in several communities and businesses. Lives and livelihoods are disrupted, and families displaced. As I saw this rainbow, all I saw was resilience and hope. These are often most needed in challenging times, like weathering a storm. Resilience allows us to bounce back from adversity, to adapt and grow stronger through difficulty. It's about finding inner strength and resourcefulness when facing obstacles. Hope, on the other hand, provides the light that guides us through the darkness, reminding us that better days are ahead. It fuels our perseverance and belief in possibilities, even when the present seems bleak. Together, resilience and hope form a powerful combination. Resilience helps us endure the storm, while hope keeps our spirits up and our eyes fixed on a brighter future. They enable us to navigate uncertainty with courage and determination, knowing that storms eventually pass and new opportunities emerge. Ultimately, resilience and hope are not just responses to adversity; they are attitudes and mindsets that empower us to persevere through life's storms, emerging stronger and more resilient than before. #climatechange #buildbackbetter #agriculture #recovery #breadbasket #StElizabeth #adaptation #Grenada #CARICOM #Jamaica

In a devastating turn of events, Hurricane Beryl has wreaked havoc across the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming at least three lives. As a powerful Category 4 storm, Beryl now barrels towards Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, threatening further calamity. Impact and Immediate Response: The hurricane has already caused significant damage on smaller Caribbean islands, particularly St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves reported extensive destruction, including 90% of homes on Union Island being severely damaged or destroyed. Grenada's Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, described a grim situation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, citing widespread devastation and power outages. Current Status and Projections: As of now, Beryl, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, is moving west-northwest at 22 mph. The storm is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surges to Jamaica by Wednesday, followed by the Cayman Islands. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued advisories for these regions, urging residents to take immediate precautions. Climate Change and Rapid Intensification: The rapid intensification of Beryl, jumping from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm in under 10 hours, underscores the impact of climate change. Scientists attribute the unusually early formation and rapid intensification of the storm to warmer ocean temperatures driven by global warming. This phenomenon leads to more evaporation, fueling more intense hurricanes with higher wind speeds. Preparedness and Evacuation Efforts: In response to the impending threat, Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatan peninsula have activated emergency protocols. Jamaica is witnessing proactive measures with residents securing boats and properties, while Mexico has opened 120 shelters and deployed nearly 4,900 troops to safeguard the Yucatan region. Global and Local Reactions: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed their condolences to the victims' families. The international community watches closely as Beryl continues its destructive path, highlighting the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness and climate action. #HurricaneBeryl #CaribbeanStorm #ClimateChange #DisasterResponse #EmergencyPreparedness #Jamaica #Haiti #DominicanRepublic #EnvironmentalImpact #GlobalWarming

The impact of Hurricane Beryl serves as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes in the era of climate change. Beryl’s destruction has highlighted the fragility of our infrastructure and the urgent need for resilient and sustainable development that includes nature and people. At the recent Small Island States Summit in Antigua many from the region remarked how unseasonably hot it was and rightly had concern for what this would mean for the forthcoming hurricane season. The historical calendar boundaries of this season have been totally redrawn. The devastation wrought by such storms is not just a natural disaster but a clarion call for global action on #climatechange. A warming ocean and shifting weather patterns are making hurricanes more intense and unpredictable. This is not just an environmental issue but a profound social and economic challenge that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable communities which includes many of Fauna & Flora ‘s partners who are on the front lines of climate change and biodiversity loss. As we witness the increasing toll of hurricanes like Beryl, it becomes clear that combating climate change and nature loss is not optional. It is an imperative! Each storm underscores the urgency for international cooperation, innovative solutions, and unwavering commitment to reducing carbon emissions, restoring and protecting nature, and building resilient societies. The legacy of Hurricane Beryl, like many before it, must propel us towards a future where we no longer just react to disasters but actively prevent and mitigate their impacts through sustained climate and nature action. What more do we need to act? As Hurricane Beryl gathers strength as it crosses the Caribbean Sea we can only hope that those in its coming path will be spared the full wrath of this storm, and those storms still, undoubtedly, to come this year. At Fauna & Flora we are actively looking at ways to mobilise our partners, governments and resources to support communities that have been dramatically impacted. I urge you to look at ways how you and your organisation can not only be involved with rapidly addressing climate change and biodiversity loss but how can we work together to support communities who have been impacted today and in the coming days, weeks, months and years.

Hurricane Helene marks the eighth Category 4 or 5 storm to land on US soil in the past 8 years. Prior to the period of 2017-2024, it took 57 years to see eight storms of that magnitude. What was a once every 5-7 years occurrence has now become an annual event. A similar upsurge has occurred with storms impacting the Caribbean and Central America. And elsewhere. A grim reminder of climate change and its consequences. Warmer ocean temperatures pump energy into hurricanes allowing them to intensify quickly. Warmer atmospheric temperatures retain more moisture leading to larger amounts of rainfall. Sea levels have risen year on year making storm surges more deadly. The human tragedy and economic costs are staggering. At a time when some chose to deny the obvious or block efforts to act, we might want to rethink our priorities.

Hurricane Beryl laid waste to communities—even whole islands—as it barreled through the Caribbean over the past week. Never has such a powerful Atlantic hurricane arrived this early in the year: The ocean is usually too cool. Smaller islands like Carriacou and Petite Martinique (population: 10,500) and Union Island (population: 3,000) have been decimated. Even those islands that did not receive the full brunt still suffered severe damage to infrastructure, homes, tourism, and the fishing industry. The worst may be yet to come. Five months remain of “a hyperactive hurricane season” with Atlantic temperatures at record highs. Beryl’s timing and severity imply a very long few months of torment for Caribbean people and some climate scientists predict between four and seven major storms of category 3 or more. #climatechange #weather #sustainability #islands #hurricanes #climate #storms #environmental #sea #ocean