Assessment of the effects and impacts of Hurricane Beryl on Barbados, 2024

Hurricane Beryl was the first major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season and the earliest-forming category 5 hurricane on record. It impacted Barbados as a category 3 storm while passing approximately 150 km south of the island, generating large swells and waves that affected the island’s south and west coasts. While the storm caused only moderate damage to basic infrastructure and did not trigger a humanitarian crisis, it caused substantial damage to coastal assets. The storm’s overall effects were estimated at 193 million Barbados dollars, equivalent to 0.15% of the country’s GDP. Damage accounted for 58% of the total effects, followed by losses (36%) and additional costs (5%). Tourism, fisheries and agriculture, and the environment accounted for 84% of total effects. Beryl’s early formation and its impact on Barbados serve as a reminder of the increasing unpredictability of climate patterns, which exacerbates the vulnerability of Caribbean small island developing States to extreme weather events. In this regard, it is paramount to continually strengthen all phases of disaster risk management, including risk assessment, prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response, to best equip countries and communities to navigate the impacts of extreme weather and climate change.