Hurricane Beryl Pummels Jamaica with 140 MPH

On Wednesday, Hurricane Beryl pounded Jamaica, bringing with it strong winds, life-threatening storm surge, and powerful waves along the country's southern coast. The storm, categorized as a Category 4 hurricane, had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, creating hurricane conditions in parts of Jamaica and tropical storm conditions elsewhere, affecting the nation's population of 2.8 million.

Beryl, previously a Category 5 hurricane with 165 mph winds, has caused historic devastation and claimed seven lives in the Windward Islands, while also leading to flooding and damage in Venezuela. Despite officials in Jamaica urging residents to take the storm seriously and evacuate, thankfully no deaths have been reported in the country.

National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan warned of the ongoing danger, stating, "Very dangerous conditions ongoing now in Jamaica, and they are going to continue for the next several hours. Everybody's going to want to stay sheltered in place, through the rest of the day, through tonight."

Preparations in the U.S.

As the path of Hurricane Beryl remains uncertain, authorities in Texas have issued warnings to coastal areas, urging residents to be prepared over the upcoming holiday weekend in case the tropical weather reaches the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott took action by directing the Texas Division of Emergency Management to issue a hurricane advisory notice to the Texas Emergency Management Council, emphasizing the state's readiness to provide all available resources and support for coastal communities in the event of impact.