A Community-Driven Response: REACT's Work Post-Hurricane Beryl

Shanika's voice trembled as she recounted the terrifying night Hurricane Beryl hit Union Island.

‘The doors were ripped from their hinges, and the entire house seemed to be coming apart.' Her husband, a doctor at the local hospital, made a split-second decision.

'He grabbed my hand and shouted, "Run!"' Shanika recalled. 'We raced towards the hospital laundry, the only place we thought might be safe. I leaped out the window onto the veranda, I saw the stairs were almost blocked by debris from the roof. But then, the roof above our bedroom was torn off completely. There was no way back.'

When the storm finally passed, Shanika and her husband emerged from the laundry room, stunned by the devastation. 'It felt like we were on a different island,' she said.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl's devastating wrath, REACT was among the first on the ground to provide aid. Our teams swiftly mobilised to assess immediate humanitarian needs, working closely with the UK High Commission and United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination to ensure a swift and coordinated response.

Initial Response

Jill Hamlin and Bill Moore, our Liaison Officers, quickly established vital connections on Union Island, while Paul Taylor and Matt Ladbrook, our Reconnaissance Team, assessed the disaster's scope. Kirsten Edmonds Bailey and David Bullock, subsequent volunteer Responders deployed to the Caribbean, played a crucial role in guiding our future response, particularly in the hardest-hit Southern Grenadines.

Community-Driven Initiative

As a Category 4 hurricane, Beryl brought destructive winds that caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods. The heavy rainfall also led to flooding and landslides, further exacerbating the devastation.

Despite the ongoing challenges, our relief efforts in the southern Grenadines continue. Our involvement in Union began with a grassroots effort through ex-pat homeowners. These residents, familiar with our mission to help the hardest to reach and most vulnerable, sought direct engagement with the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves. Their initiative led them to an umbrella organisation, Gumbolimbo, uniting homeowners and providing crucial oversight and resources integrated into the overall government response.

By establishing Canouan as a bridgehead, we are able to provide critical support to Union without overwhelming its limited resources. While we managed all resources from Canouan, our Responders remain on Union to ensure seamless integration with government response efforts.

On the Ground: Responder Activities

Our Responders have been hard at work, focusing on a range of activities that include coordination and assessment, working in direct support of the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) on Union Island. Their efforts include supporting the rebuilding of critical infrastructure, distributing supplies, and providing support to water and shelter initiatives.

The dedication and resilience of our teams and their counterparts from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the wider Caribbean have been truly inspiring, as they work tirelessly to bring hope and stability to those affected by Hurricane Beryl.

Impact and Lessons Learned

REACT's response to Hurricane Beryl demonstrates the power of community-driven solutions and government collaboration in disaster response. Our ability to leverage the expertise and resources of our Responders, combined with the dedication of local residents, played a vital role in addressing Union's needs during a time of crisis.

This experience has provided valuable insights into effective disaster response strategies, which we will continue to apply in future humanitarian efforts.

Making a Difference: Responders Kirsten and David's story

Kirsten, one of our International Responders, described the devastation witnessed across the Islands:

"The communities have come together in response to this devastation of their Island and REACT have been able to provide support through assistance in coordinating their efforts. It never ceases to amaze me how resilient human nature can be in the face of these disasters. Watching progress being made, whether an area being cleaned, a small shop opening or street lights being turned back on, people are able to see that things are recovering".

David, a REACT Responder on his first international deployment, highlighted the importance of community involvement:

“The people of Southern Grenadines Islands and Union Island have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of devastating challenges. Their unwavering commitment to rebuilding their communities has been inspiring. I have been privileged to work alongside such incredible people, providing support where needed and working alongside local leaders and community organisations to support a sustainable recovery”.

Next Steps

As we move forward, REACT is committed to continuing our work in the Caribbean and thanks to the tireless work of our committed volunteer Responders, hope to have a number of agreements in place within the region in the coming weeks to facilitate rapid deployment next time disaster strikes.