SAVANNA LA MAR, Westmoreland — Hurricane Beryl brought out the best in many Westmoreland residents, including Derrick “Legroute” Whitter’s neighbour, who helped him after his roof blew off.

As the storm raged in Savanna-la-Mar’s Hudson Street community last Wednesday, Whitter and his female neighbour braved heavy wind and rain to clear a path so Whitter could make his way to the nearest shelter. Luck was on his side and he could leave quickly as, in preparing for the storm, he had secured his important documents and furniture in the back room which he considered safest.

“My worry was the tree at the back of the house; I thought it would fall on the house,” Legroute told the Jamaica Observer the day after the hurricane. “I was in the kitchen when I heard the sound, and I say, ‘Mi dead now!’ Then I heard it drop. I wouldn’t be here a talk to you now if it did drop on di house, because a right on di kitchen it would a drop. Then I heard a next sound, and that time I realise that the roof a lift off. The roof over the bedroom and living room totally gone!”

Some residents spent the day after the storm helping each other to find their missing roofs, removing uprooted trees and branches from power lines and off the blocked streets.

As he looked around his battered property, Whitter was confident he would be okay.

“I am a hard-working man, enuh. A years mi deh pon di road. So I have money can help myself,” he said.

This resilience was also seen in other Westmoreland residents, some using Hurricane Beryl as a springboard for entrepreneurship. Chainsaw owners walked around offering cutting service to neighbours impeded by downed trees. In Frome, Donovan Heath used his solar-powered generator to create a charging station at his gate. For a modest sum of $100 his customers could power up their phones and other small devices.

In Savanna-la-Mar, there was gratitude that the storm did not do greater damage.

“Some people say that Beryl was worse than Gilbert, but I disagree. Gilbert came with flooding. We are very lucky, no reports of flooding in any area,” said resident Dawn Johnson.

Political caretaker for the Cornwall Mountain Division Abigail Malcolm, who was on the road early on Thursday to assess the extent of the damage and help with restoration activities, confirmed that there had been no flooding in her area. However, like many across Jamaica some residents lost roofs, and trees and power lines were down in many communities.

“My team and I are here trying to help by removing fallen trees, because the quicker the trees are removed the faster power will be restored, as the trees are entangled with the power lines,” Malcolm told the Sunday Observer.

“We have to give God thanks because it could have been worse. We are safe and sound,” she continued as she worked alongside her team.

They had also worked the day before the storm hit to assist about 53 elderly people in need received hurricane supplies and care packages. The items were donated by various business people in the parish and the recipients were thankful.

Many residents in the parish were also grateful in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl for the work done by the police, soldiers, and firefighters. They said their presence was felt during and after the storm and their swift action in clearing fallen trees from sections of the road was a big help.