Hurricane Beryl Community Relief Fund - Rebuilding Together!
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Dearest beautiful community around the world,
On 1 July 2024, an unprecedented Category 5 Hurricane, Beryl, made landfall in the South Eastern Caribbean (Windward Islands). This is unheard of so early in the hurricane season! The hurricane had a maximum sustained wind speed of more than 160mph (257km/h) and became the earliest category five Atlantic hurricane in records going back around 100 years. St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Barbados, as well as Jamaica (North Western Caribbean) all suffered devastating impacts from Hurricane Beryl. This has left thousands of people displaced, forcing them to migrate to neighbouring islands (if possible) or seek shelter in community shelters, by friends, or by family members.
The haunting headline in the aftermath was: "Carriacou flattened in only 30 minutes"! These are words none of us can forget, as they are all too familiar. In 2017, the island of Barbuda sadly suffered the same fate. We may be resilient people, and we may have experienced hurricanes in the region for centuries, but we have never endured such levels of intensity and devastation before. A shocking 90% of homes were destroyed on Union island in the Grenadines. The Prime Minister has described the destruction as "armageddon like".
See for example for info on how Beryl broke records: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/hurricane-beryl-records-category-4-storm-caribbean-rcna159723
For more info on impacts
See also :https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-beryl-grenada-destruction-communication-system-destroyed/
Goal of Fundraiser:
We have started this fundraiser to assist (at least) 5 families with US$ 1000 each to rebuild better, stronger, and safer.
How will funds be dispersed:
We are currently connecting with locals on these islands and will select families that have lost everything and really need the extra assistance to rebuild their homes and lives.
We will ensure that donors will be updated via this page and/or social media and we aim to follow up with the families to see how our assistance has helped with their progress in building back.
Closing Remarks:
It is NEVER an easy road to recovery after such a traumatic experience. Our communities are broken for some time - emotionally, mentally, economically, and some even physically. Despite the pain and trauma of losing everything, most of us still have life and with life we carry on with the resilience and strength of a true Caribbean society.
These hurricanes are going to happen more frequently and will be more intense due to the adverse effects of climate change. Consequently, it is vital that communities in the Caribbean build back better, stronger, and safer to continue to survive the impacts of climate change without having to repeatedly start over from scratch! However, this cannot happen without all of our assistance.
We urge you to please assist with what you can, every 1 dollar/euro/pound helps and will be deeply appreciated! On behalf of my Caribbean family, we thank you in advance for your donations and for sharing this fundraiser via your socials! :-)
Why is Hurricane Beryl a Global Concern?:
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2024/7/3/why-is-hurricane-beryl-of-so-much-global-scientific-concern
About the Fundraisers:
Who are We & Our Motivation:
My name is Deedee Johnson, I am a recent Double Masters graduate in the Netherlands. I am originally from the Caribbean, born on Saba and grew up on Sint Maarten. Together with some friends and my family, we are managing this fundraiser. We have experienced many intense hurricanes throughout our lives. For example, my family and I lost nearly everything during Hurricane Luis in 1995 (Cat 4) and many of us have watched our islands endure hurricane Irma in 2017 (Cat 5) while abroad. These experiences are what continue to motivate us today to take action and help those that are now being immensely impacted by hurricanes in the Caribbean region.
This fundraiser is not our first. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, we worked with several other peers to raise funds and gather supplies in the Netherlands to ship to Sint Maarten. We helped family members / friends in the Netherlands connect with those on the island; I have personally represented my island in the regional news in the Netherlands to bring more awareness; and my family, friends, and I worked together to reach out to huge American aid providers to ensure that medical supplies and other essentials were brought to Sint Maarten.
We truly empathise with the tragedy that all those experience in the Caribbean in the aftermath of a hurricane, as we are also hurricane warriors!
Our condolences to anyone all those that have lost someone due to the impacts of Hurricane Beryl. We wish you much strength.
Update 31/08/24: We have almost achieved our first US$1000 to help the first selected family, please keep sharing and spreading the word so we can keep raising the much needed funds! If we do not make this goal, the funds will still be transferred this month to the first family as even a little can go a long way! We will then continue to raise US$ 4000 more to help 4 more families :-) Thank you everyone!
Youtube video source: WXChasing
This YouTube video was utilise to illustrate the devastating impacts suffered by the communities in the Eastern Caribbean. It is not being used for commercial purposes.
Organizer
Deedee Johnson
Organizer