Montreal's Caribbean community shares concerns, steps up to help as Hurricane Beryl devastates islands

Gemma Raeburn-Baynes was only a child when, in 1955, 14 of her family members were killed in Hurricane Janet, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, when it passed through Grenada. 

Now, after a fierce Category 4 hurricane struck her home country this week, decimating two islands, she again fears for her loves ones.

"My uncle and my cousins. I have not heard from them. It's worrisome," said Raeburn-Baynes, a prominent member of Montreal's Grenadian community, whose family lives in Saint Patrick, southwest of the major destruction. 

Hurricane Beryl has caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean and killed at least six people across Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela since it began ripping through the region Monday. 

WATCH | Hurricane has caused widespread damage across southeastern Caribbean: 

The islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada were hit hardest when the storm made landfall, with scores of homes and businesses flattened.

"It's complete devastation," said Nicole Swann, president of the Grenada Nationals Association of Montreal, who has family on the country's mainland.

"You have fallen telephone lines, the roads are blocked, there's no water, there's no electricity, the hospital has been damaged," she said. 

Swann says she's heard from her family members, but like Raeburn-Baynes, others in Montreal are still scrambling to contact loves ones. 

"I'm not sure about my family's homes, what happened, so it's very, very hard," Raeburn-Baynes said. 

In spite of the worry and uncertainty, Swann, Raeburn-Baynes and other Caribbean organizations have stepped up to organize relief efforts to help those in need. 

"They need non-perishable foods, they need water, they need tarpaulin," Swann said. "A lot of people have to rebuild." 

Raeburn-Baynes says a relief drive will be set up at Greenz, a Grenadian restaurant in Montreal's Lachine borough, where workers will be collecting money, food, toiletries and more. 

The Spice Island Cultural Festival, founded by Raeburn-Baynes and running from July 11 to 14, will also provide an opportunity for people to come together and learn more about what is happening on the ground.