hurricane beryl
As Melissa threatened Jamaica’s south coast in October 2025, St Elizabeth was still rebuilding from Beryl more than a year earlier. The parish’s communities, many still in partial recovery, faced a Category 5 storm with patched roofs and depleted resources. It is a pattern the country can no longer afford to repeat.
One year after Hurricane Beryl, south coast communities around Black River and Treasure Beach remain in various stages of incomplete recovery. The pattern of storm, inadequate rebuilding and renewed exposure is not a natural disaster cycle. It is a structural failure in Jamaica’s approach to coastal housing resilience.
While Beryl knocked out power across much of Black River in July 2024, the Black River Safari emerged unscathed, thanks to proper construction and pre-storm preparation. The contrast with the surrounding town offers a clear lesson about building standards and property resilience.
Hurricane Beryl’s direct hit on Jamaica’s south coast in July 2024 exposed the structural vulnerability of housing in St Elizabeth, particularly in coastal communities around Black River and Parottee. The damage patterns told a consistent story about building standards, land tenure and the limits of informal construction.
Subject: Hurricane Beryl AdvisoryDate: Wed 3 July 2024Location: JamaicaCurrent Status: Hurricane WarningJamaica is currently under a Hurricane Warning due to…
Living in Jamaica means enjoying its beautiful landscapes and vibrant culture, but it also requires being prepared for hurricane season.…