Tobago Correspondent
The roar of fierce winds and heavy rains awakened Tobago at the break of dawn yesterday as the effects of Category 4 Hurricane Beryl slowly invaded the island. By 5 am, Tobago was facing what was described as the worst disaster since the 1963 Category 3 Hurricane Flora, which killed 18 people and displaced thousands. Charlottesville was the first community hit.
Just hours before, the streets were alive with people dancing, seemingly unaware of the looming danger. As they partied just two streets away, supplies were being offloaded at the Tobago Emergency Management Agency’s Charlotteville relief centre, while the fishermen’s fete by the beach continued until police forcefully shut it down at midnight.
As the night went on, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine held a final briefing with soldiers from Trinidad. Approximately 26 of them were sent for immediate emergency help. Augustine said he spent the night driving around, checking shelters, and ensuring people found safety.
Amid these preparations, Tobago recorded its 11th murder in Mt Pleasant, when 30-year-old Nathan Roach died at Scarborough General Hospital after being shot. Senior Superintendent Rodhill Kirk, head of Tobago police operations, expressed frustration. He said, “We don’t want to exhaust our resources. Just look how this happened at a time like this.” For the next three hours, an eerie calm settled over the island.
But as midnight passed without incident, some Tobagonians began to feel relieved. Guardian Media noticed social media posts from Tobagonians saying they believed the hurricane had changed course. This hope lasted only until dawn. By 6 am, the winds intensified, uprooting large trees and flattening small plants.
The rain poured down in relentless showers, especially in Charlottesville, where the storm severed Turpin Bend, isolating the village from the rest of the island. By noon, reports of fallen trees, blocked roads, and widespread damage came in from across Tobago. The scenes were terrifying and, for many, heartbreaking, with homes damaged and families displaced.
There was some flooding in Crown Point, and power lines were downed, causing widespread outages in several areas. Schools and businesses remained shut tight. Just as the island braced for more devastation, the Meteorological Office downgraded the hurricane to a tropical depression.
Within two hours, the skies cleared and the winds calmed. Communities came together, including Tobago House of Assembly area representatives, and began cleaning up and repairing the damage.
All around, the resilience of Tobagonians shone through as neighbours helped each other rebuild, sharing resources and offering support. Local authorities organised relief efforts, providing food, water, and medical assistance to those affected. Volunteers worked tirelessly to clear debris and restore order, even as the winds and rains continued.
But just when Tobago braced for more, the meteorological office downgraded the hurricane watch to a tropical depression. And in under two hours, the sky was clearer and heavy winds had stopped. By 3 pm, life in many parts of Tobago had surprisingly returned to normal. Meanwhile, clean-up teams were dispatched to affected areas along the north and east of the island to have communities restored by today.