Location: Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
Event: Hurricane Beryl is currently passing near the Cayman Islands, where a hurricane warning is in effect. Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts International Airport and Cayman’s Charles Kirkconnell International Airport) remain closed.
A flash flood warning remains in effect for Jamaica. Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston is closed, with an estimated reopening at 5:00am on Friday, July 5. Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is expected to reopen at 6:00pm local time today. Depending on ongoing damage assessments and repairs, airport authorities may adjust these times. In Jamaica, approximately 60% of customers remain without electricity, and water service, internet service, and cell phone data service are also unavailable or unreliable across much of the island. Initial reports indicate that Hurricane Beryl severely affected Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, and Manchester Parishes with building damage, downed power lines, flooding, and trees and other debris blocking roads. Other locations in Jamaica have also been affected. Damage assessments by local authorities are underway.
Due to the federal holiday on Thursday, July 4, the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the U.S. Consular Agency in Montego Bay, and the U.S. Consular Agency in George Town, Grand Cayman are closed. Our offices in Jamaica will be open for normal business on Friday, July 5. At this time, we are unable to predict whether the Consular Agency in Grand Cayman will attend to the public as normal on Friday.
Actions to Take:
- Contact your airline to verify airport openings, your updated flight itinerary, and other details.
- Until notified by local authorities, continue to shelter in place in a structure that can withstand rainfall and winds. If such shelter is not available to you, you should move to a local government shelter. Information on government shelters can be found at the links below. DO NOT seek shelter at the U.S. Embassy or Consular Agencies.
- Monitor the National Hurricane Center at www.nhc.noaa.gov , Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management at www.odpem.org.jm , the Cayman Islands Government at www.caymanprepared.gov.ky , and local media for forecasts, shelter locations, warnings, and official instructions.
- Follow all instructions from local authorities.
- Inform a friend or family member of travel plans and your safety over the upcoming week.
- Have travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Kingston, Jamaica
142 Old Hope Rd. Kingston 6, Jamaica
+1-876-702-6000
KingstonACS@state.gov
https://jm.usembassy.gov/
U.S. Consular Agency Montego Bay
Whitter Village, Ironshore
Unit EU-1 (across from Burger King)
Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica
+1-876-953-0620
MobayACS@state.gov
U.S. Consular Agency Cayman Islands
150 Smith Road
Smith Road Center, Unit 202B
George Town, KY1-1010
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
+345-945-8173
CaymanACS@state.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
Jamaica Country Information
Cayman Island Country Information
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