Tobagonians spent the greater part of yesterday afternoon stocking up on food and fuel.
Motorists lined up for more than two hours in some cases to get diesel or gasoline. Those purchasing diesel had a longer wait time, since there were fewer pumps available at the two open gas stations in the Tobago West area.
As news spread that Hurricane Beryl had strengthened and was set to directly impact Tobago, people came out of their homes and rushed to several groceries to get water, toiletries and basic food items.
Liam Alvarez, a resident of Signal Hill, was at Penny Savers in Scarborough getting some essential supplies. He said he was worried about the hurricane and noted that he and family members had started to secure loose items around their home. Another shopper, who asked to be identified only as Nicola from Whim, stocked up on canned food, toilet paper and water. Nicola said she was worried about the “stillness of the place” hours before Hurricane Beryl was expected to hit.
Nicola said her mother had survived Hurricane Flora.
She detailed that her mother said she was coming home from school when Flora struck on September 26, 1963. Nicola said her mother hid below an arched stairway to ride out that hurricane. Nicola said 61 years ago, people did not get timely information about pending disasters. Saunders, a shopper from Castara, said he trusted in God and believed that Hurricane Beryl would bypass the island.
Laverne Simon, of Signal Hill, was shopping at Coss Cutters in Plymouth and said she was prepared for the worsening weather and was picking up some extra groceries to be on the safe side.