Crisis response: ITU’s response to Hurricane Beryl in Grenada, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines
As a Category 4 hurricane, with life-threatening winds and storm surge, Hurricane Beryl devastated St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada on 1 July 2024. It then continued to Jamaica.
The islands were hit by wind speeds of 120 km/h or above.
Over 900,000 people were affected by Hurricane Beryl across St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Jamaica.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, there was no telephone and radio communication on Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamaica’s telecommunication networks were severely damaged. Emergency communication was needed.
ITU provided satellite phones and accessories, Broadband Global Area Network (BGANs) devices and the ITU-led Disaster Connectivity Map (DCM) was activated to support responders with near real-time information on telecommunications connectivity status in Grenada, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
ITU is also actively engaged in early warnings to help countries be better prepared when hazards occur and build resilience.
This includes the development of National Emergency Telecommunications Plans, technical support to assess and review existing communication infrastructure, developing policies and regulatory frameworks that support the deployment of sustainable and resilient ICT infrastructure, and work through the Early Warnings for All initiative.
This is an ITU Development #DigitalImpactUnlocked story
