Hurricane Melissa hit my beautiful island of Jamaica on October 28th as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph (298 kph). It was the strongest hurricane to ever hit Jamaica. The historic storm blasted western Jamaica, including Montego Bay, where my widowed sister-in-law Julet lives, demolishing homes, knocking down swaths of trees and washing out roadways. I grew up in Jamaica from the late 1950s until I migrated in the early 1980s. I experienced hurricanes, but nothing came close to the monumental destruction that Hurricane Melissa has caused, in terms of property damage.
Please help in the Hurricane Melissa rebuilding process by going here to participate in our auction geared towards raising money to assist the folks in my sister-in-law’s neighborhood.
Julet’s home is located in Puerto Bello, a suburb of Montego Bay. It was a beautiful residential neighborhood, with approximately 1,500 residents. The entire neighborhood now looks like a war zone because of the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa. It will take years for it to be restored to its pre-hurricane state. The homes and the necessary infrastructure need to be rebuilt, and the residents are in dire need of financial assistance as they try to rebuild. The government can only do so much, so the residents will need to rely on friends and family in other parts of the world to support their efforts to rebuild their lives.
Eyewitness reports and videos on social media from Jamaica showed vehicles destroyed by flying debris, hotel doors blown off hinges and roofs scattered across neighborhoods. Video of the airport in Montego Bay showed inundated seating areas, broken glass, and collapsed ceilings. The picture on the left shows what my sister-in-law’s kitchen looks like after the hurricane.
Since the hurricane, there has been no electricity, no running water, and no internet or phone service in Julet’s (my sister-in-law) neighborhood. Her community has been devastated and there is an urgent need for assistance to rebuild and restore some sense of hope. Many people are sleeping in their cars, and although food supplies are hard to come by, they help each other as best as they can.
The known death toll was 45 people. Damage to the country due to Hurricane Melissa is estimated as about US$6 billion to US$7 billion based on preliminary figures, says Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. In a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (Nov. 4), Dr. Holness said that the figure is equivalent to about 28 percent to 32 percent of last fiscal year’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Prime Minister said that the hurricane will have a profound economic impact on the country, pointing out that it has struck the heart of Jamaica’s productive belt, significantly damaging and disrupting the tourism and agriculture sectors, the road network, housing, and other critical infrastructure across various parishes.
I know that my people of Jamaica are extremely resilient and that they will get through this catastrophic event. They will definitely need a lot of help, but everyone is engaged in the rebuilding process. I am confident that those of us Jamaicans outside the country will do all that we can to support the rebuilding effort. Our prayers and well wishes are not enough. We must be committed to finding ways to provide critical financial assistance. I hope when you read this, you’ll be moved to lend a hand. Your assistance is truly appreciated.
God bless!