HOUSTON — Powerful winds pummeled Barbados early Monday and Houston-based freelance Journalist Rugwed Damle was there as category 4 Hurricane Beryl arrived.
“Until yesterday, it was all pretty and beautiful,” said Damle.
He's been in Barbados covering the Cricket World Cup and says Hurricane Beryl delayed flights for many hoping to leave after Sunday’s final match.
“A lot of my friends who were supposed to leave yesterday at 1 p.m. and the airport was closed at 6 p.m. That's when the warning was issued,” said Damle.
When KHOU 11 News spoke with Damle Monday afternoon he said it appeared the worst was over.
“Fingers crossed. I'm hoping by the end of the day, it will be much better,” said Damle.
Damle said his flight from Barbados to Houston is set for Wednesday, July 3.
In Houston, people are trying to contact family members in the storm's path.
“WhatsApp and, messenger, making sure everybody's okay,” said Ryan Nelson Paryag.
Paryag is with the Grenada Houston Association. He said he was able to speak with his family Monday morning before Beryl made landfall. His brother sent a video of what the weather looked like.
“You could hear the waves and everything like that. And we were talking about a particular tree and almost as soon as I finished talking to me, he called me back and he showed me the same picture with the tree gone,” said Paryag.
Paryag said power outages are making it difficult to keep in touch with his family.
“Not speaking to them to know exactly what they're doing is the hardest part of that,” said Paryag.
He’s keeping a close eye on social media where videos show the damage.
“Just try to pray for everybody because we don't know what the damage is until it is over,” said Paryag.
If needed, Prayag and the Grenada Houston Association are ready to send support to the island, but they're waiting to see what the people of Grenada may need.