USVI Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett welcomes $4.5M Hurricane Beryl relief for impacted Caribbean countries

United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett has welcomed the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) announcement of US$4.5 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to Caribbean countries impacted by Hurricane Beryl.

“Immediately after learning of the impact of Hurricane Beryl on our Caribbean neighbors, I reached out to Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), who serves on the Appropriations Committee as the Ranking Democrat for the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs,” said Plaskett, co-chair of the Caribbean Caucus in the US House of Representatives, on July 30. “I am deeply grateful to USAID for providing this critical funding and to my colleague Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) for working with my office to elevate this issue and ensure the availability of funds. 

“This assistance will be used to repair shelters, address water and sanitation needs, support operations, and bolster overall relief efforts,” she added. “Given the unpredictability of hurricane activity, it is essential that we remain engaged with our Caribbean communities, partners, and local governments to support and strengthen disaster preparedness and response efforts.”

USAID said it will also provide market-based assistance to help affected residents purchase basic household commodities and other needed items.

“We stand with these communities impacted and will continue to help them in this time of need,” said USAID, disclosing that, in Jamaica, it intends to provide US$2.5 million to repair homes, address water and sanitation needs, support logistical operations; and provide essential relief items, such as clean-up kits, hygiene kits, and tarps. 

In Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, USAID said it intends to provide a total of US$2 million, US$1 million for each country, to bolster relief efforts. 

USAID said this funding will provide shelter and emergency relief items for several thousand people displaced due to storm damage. 

Additionally, USAID said it plans to provide market-based assistance to affected households to provide “critical flexibility” in their recovery efforts.

Prior to Hurricane Beryl making landfall in the Caribbean, USAID said it pre-positioned relief supplies in the region, deployed eight staff, and activated 25 disaster experts in seven countries to support response efforts.

USAID said its humanitarian teams remain on the ground across the Caribbean to work with partners and local governments to assess storm damage and humanitarian needs, and to support the disaster response. 

This year, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-normal hurricane activity. 

USAID said it is working closely with the NOAA, the UN, implementing partners, and local governments to support hurricane preparedness by co-developing emergency and evacuation plans; training national disaster response organizations and first responders; and educating vulnerable communities, “so they know what to do when the next storm hits.”