Hurricane Beryl killed dozens when it hit Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent, Union Island, the Grenadines, and parts of the U.S. in early July. Brooklyn electeds, many of whom are from the islands or of Caribbean descent, have joined forces to conduct relief drives for those impacted all this month.
“The devastation our Caribbean neighbors have faced in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke. “With so many communities and countless Caribbean peoples reeling in the wake of this historic storm, the United States has a moral responsibility to secure meaningful humanitarian and disaster response aid for the nations severely struggling at this moment.”
Hurricane Beryl was a Category 5 storm at its zenith—the first of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and one of the earliest Category 5 storms on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It traveled more than 6,000 miles for more than two weeks, racking up a significant death toll (about 33 in all) as of July 11: 6 people died in Venezuela, 1 in Grenada, 2 on Carriacou Island near Grenada, 6 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 4 in Jamaica; and 11 in Texas, 1 in Louisiana, and 2 in Vermont stateside.
It also destroyed buildings, downed trees, and left millions of people across the affected islands and parts of the U.S. without power.
“As co-chair of the House Caribbean Caucus and a leader in this space, I will continue to advocate and fight to promptly deliver emergency relief funding where it is most needed,” continued Clarke. “Lives are on the line, and they cannot afford our inaction.”
Senator Kevin Parker; Assemblymembers Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Brian Cunningham, and Monique Chandler-Waterman; and Councilmembers Farah Louis, Mercedes Narcisse, and Rita Joseph initiated the Support Every Life Beyond Yours (SELBY, Inc.) Hurricane Beryl Relief Drive. The relief efforts are geared toward getting supplies for Union Island, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, West Indies, Carriacou, Bequia, Grenada, Petite Martinique’s, and Jamaica.
“The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl is utterly devastating and damaging across the Caribbean—literally destroying every building on some islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines—and my constituents and too many New Yorkers are feeling the effects here, in the home to the largest Caribbean community in the United States,” said Bichotte Hermelyn in a statement. “However, our community has always been focused on unity and being good neighbors. We’ve seen an overwhelming response for our SELBY, Inc. Hurricane Relief Drive to provide urgently needed items to victims. I thank every donor from the bottom of my heart as I join our community [in] praying for a swift recovery, and urge Brooklynites to continue donating at drop-off sites across the borough.”
Bichotte Hermelyn thanked Mayor Eric Adams, the Consulate Generals and Officials of Caribbean Islands, and Governor Kathy Hochul for securing more funding for faster transport of donated items to those affected.
“We have received donations in my district office, including water, canned foods, pillows, sleeping blankets, diapers, wipes, and formula,” said Louis. “However, we still need more essential medicine, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, toiletries, and hygiene kits [because] the countries’ infrastructure has been decimated and will require a long road to recovery.
“It is imperative that our community leaders, such as myself, continue to call for aid to these countries, as many of our constituents and families here in New York City are desperately trying to support their loved ones back in their home countries and it is our duty to support our neighbors in this time of need.”
Donations are being collected through July 31. For more information, email selbyvillas@gmail.com or call 917-773-8252.
Needed items:
Water, first aid supplies, cots and sleeping bags, pillows and sleeping blankets, non-perishables and canned foods, flashlights, batteries, soap powder, diapers, wipes and baby formula, tarpaulins and tents, toiletries, and hygiene kits.
Items may be dropped off at:
Downstate Medical Center
Monday–Friday
Open 24 hours a day
God’s Battalion of Prayer
Monday–Friday
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Christ Ambassador Ministries
Monday–Friday
5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Brooklyn Community Board 17
Monday–Friday
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Council District Office 45
Monday–Friday
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.