But inside, washing lines sag with the weight of towels and clothes, and there are people of all ages: a baby frets on her mother's hip, children squeal as they chase each other, teens play basketball, and elderly people sit chatting.
This school in the district of Calliaqua is one of 20 on the country's mainland, St Vincent, which were converted into shelters as Hurricane Beryl, a category 4 storm, tore through the region in early July with winds up to 190km/h.
Some of the 30 people at this shelter arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs. During the hurricane, many had spent hours hiding under beds or staircases as Beryl ripped off their doors and dismantled their roofs.
Seven weeks on, nature has calmed down. But many in the shelters remain trapped in the horror of the storm.
"A lot of people are traumatised," said the shelter manager, Josel Matthews. Some survivors refused to eat for days, staring off into space or breaking into sobs, she said. Some are now working with counsellors.
Denne historien er fra August 30, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra August 30, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The Saudi football World Cup is an act of violence and disdain
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Votes of confidence
From India to Venezuela and Senegal to the US, more people voted this year than ever before, with over 80 elections across the world. With rising authoritarianism and citizen-led resistance revealing its vulnerabilities and resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges, has democracy reached its breaking or turning point?
