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Atlanta’s Caribbean Community Unites for Hurricane Beryl Victims – WSB-TV Channel 2

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STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — Local Caribbean community leaders are scrambling to reach out to loved ones left behind after Hurricane Beryl struck Jamaica overnight.

Robert Shaw, originally from Jamaica but now living in metropolitan Atlanta, said it was stressful waiting to see how strong the hurricane would be when it hit the coast.

“It’s a major concern, a major concern for our families,” Shaw said.

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Courtney Francisco from Channel 2 was with him as he called his brother, Richard Shaw, to check on him.

“We were lucky not to be hit directly,” Shaw said.

He described trees being toppled over.

The death toll in Jamaica stood at two as of Thursday.

Families from Atlanta visiting Jamaica said they were unable to fly out before the storm.

After several hours of attempts, the calls were put through, but the cellular signal was not maintained.

In text messages and emails, families said generators provide electricity every half hour.

They said everyone at the resorts, including guests, took brooms, leaf blowers and trash bags and helped clean up debris Thursday morning.

Members of the Caribbean community in metro Atlanta are coming together to coordinate hurricane relief efforts.

Barbados leaders are hosting a fundraiser on July 27 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Stonecrest Distillery.

It will include live music, food trucks and games for children and adults.

Other groups, such as the Jamaican Association of Atlanta, are asking for donations.

They are partnering with Caribbean International Shipping Services in Stonecrest to help get the money to the affected islands quickly.

Lawrence Prescott is the founder of Caribbean Life TV.

He said organizers were asking for baby diapers, toiletries, heavy-duty trash bags and work gloves.

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Prescott said you can drop off donations at his business address at 6254 Memorial Dr. in Stone Mountain.

You can also drop off donations at Caribbean International Shipping Services at 3048 Miller Rd. in Stonecrest.

Shaw said he plans to travel to Jamaica next week to check on his loved ones.

His brother Richard said this to those still in the path of the storm: “Prepare, follow instructions, and pray.”

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