Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm this year, swept through the Caribbean on the morning of October 28th. It primarily hit the southwestern coast of Jamaica before moving northwest to Cuba and the Cayman Islands and finally dissipated on October 31st. It was a category five hurricane at its peak, leaving at least 50 dead and $8 billion worth of damage to infrastructure.
The storm had the strongest impact on Jamaica because it was the first stop on its path of destruction. Approximately 140000 people were cut off without access to the emergency services, 77% of the country lost electricity, and 25000 tourists were stranded on the island.
Jamaica has faced over 50 hurricanes, and with climate change only worsening, they have been preparing for the worst. Over the past few years, the nation has been formulating a financial response plan for natural disasters. This is a layered plan, meaning it has multiple safeguards to fall back on depending on the severity of the crisis; the plans include a preemptive fund, preapproved loans from the World Bank, and, finally, a high-interest catastrophe bond that would be paid by investors worldwide.
Despite these thorough preparations, the infrastructure in Jamaica was ultimately not secure enough to withstand this disaster, due to both the fierce winds and the catastrophic flooding. Not only are the floods continuing to rise due to blocked drainage systems, but in one part of Jamaica the water has become infected with dead livestock. Combined with the wind literally ripping the roofs off of homes, the situation is immensely dangerous for anyone in Jamaica, native people and tourists alike.
Many organizations are raising money to help with the recovery efforts in Jamaica, such as Amazon, Disney, Home Depot, and more. Countries are also stepping in to help, providing both money and aid. The United Kingdom donated $3.3 million, China sent kits filled with essentials, and the United States deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team to provide search assistance. The U.S. also is collaborating with other organizations to help the recovery efforts even further.
While this may seem like a distant issue, anyone can help. Organizations like UNICEF, Project HOPE, Food for the Poor Jamaica, and so many more make it incredibly easy to donate to help relief efforts. These links can also be posted on people’s socials, spreading awareness about Hurricane Melissa’s disastrous impact. In a time when families are being ripped apart and destruction reigns across the country, every bit of help makes a difference.