Jamaica is taking steps to rebuild as a nation after Hurricane Melissa ripped through the island and left at least five people dead. The Category 5 storm made landfall on Tuesday, carrying strong winds of up to 185 mph, destroying homes and flooding neighborhoods. Roughly 6000 people are now in shelters. It’s one of the strongest hurricanes in Jamaica’s recorded history.
“We are acting quickly to assess the damage and bring relief,” said Jamaica’s Prime Minister, the Honorable Andrew Holness, on his X account. He has been sharing his assessment of Melissa’s damage with the public.
“The devastation is truly heartbreaking, yet the spirit of the people remains unbroken,” he said.
Southwestern communities, including St. Elizabeth and St. James parishes, were among the hardest hit. In a press conference this week, the Honorable Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development, confirmed that the hurricane severely damaged the infrastructure of many public buildings, including hospitals. In Montego Bay, Sangster International Airport remains closed after the storm ripped it apart.
“The Barnett River overflowed up to 16 feet of water covering sections of Montego Bay,” he said, noting officials are still assessing the damage. “We’re all in your corners and we are hoping for the best.”
As recovery efforts continue, Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has listed urgent needs for affected communities. Items include batteries, flashlights, pillows, hygiene kits and water storage tanks. There are also military requests for the Jamaica Defence Force, such as ready-to-eat meals and bottled water.
The crisis has drawn an outpouring of support from across the world. Local and international organizations are mobilizing to provide relief, while members of the diaspora have launched fundraising campaigns and donation drives.
“We got to help each other, and we got to make sure that we show up in times when we can,” said Rich Williams, CEO of Lovers Rock Sea Moss, a New York-based company that sells Caribbean-sourced sea moss gel. Williams is donating all the sales from his business this week to Food for the Poor Jamaica, one of the organizations providing relief on the ground. As a person of Jamaican descent, he says it’s especially important for him to raise awareness and funds for recovery efforts. “Out of many, one people is the country motto, so I wanted to be able to just help out and help my people, help my country.”
Jamaica’s government has also launched an official website, Support Jamaica, to coordinate relief efforts. Visitors to the site can locate shelters set up after the hurricane as well as make monetary donations. Other recovery organizations include the American Friends of Jamaica, United Way, and World Central Kitchen.