Bent, Not Broken: Hurricane Melissa

I write this article with a heavy heart. My beautiful Jamaica suffered a hurricane on October 28 with maximum sustained winds of 185mph (298kmh), the most intense Atlantic hurricane to ever make landfall in history. The confirmed death toll in Jamaica so far from Hurricane Melissa is 32, and we fear it may climb as search and rescue operations continue, and connectivity is restored. Thousands of people have lost everything– their homes, furniture, clothes, cars, everything. Five hospitals have been severely damaged, as well as dozens of schools, businesses, churches, roads and other vital infrastructure. The current estimated damage is US$7 billion, one-third of Jamaica’s GDP.

I’ve delayed writing this article because I still haven’t processed what happened. I am fine physically– so are my husband, immediate family and friends. I have articles written since September which will continue to auto-publish over the next few weeks, but I decided to write this article for balance since all is not well at home. This hurricane has stirred many emotions:

1. Anger: I’m angry at how Jamaica is/was being represented internationally e.g. FOX News, NY Times to name a few. This hurricane has been the most sensationalized Jamaican event in history. I’ve seen and read all sorts of false and hurtful news about my country: that we suffered extensive damage only because we have poor infrastructure, that we don’t plant our trees properly, that we all live on the coast in board homes etc. Some media outlets make it seem as if Jamaica is destroyed forever, and as if the entire country suffered extensive damage when it’s mostly confined to western Jamaica. The reality is that most manmade structures cannot withstand hours of sustained winds at 185mph (298kmh). Majority of Jamaican homes are built from block and steel to withstand hurricanes, but even so, this is uncharted territory. Hurricane Melissa is the strongest known Atlantic hurricane to ever make landfall. This also reiterated why traditional media can’t be trusted– imagine how many other beautiful countries are getting misrepresented by foreign media!
2. Anger (Part 2): I’m angry because the Caribbean has contributed the least to global warming, yet we are the most impacted by climate change due to our geography as small island states. The actions of industrialized countries has caused and will continue to cause more intense droughts, hurricanes and rising sea levels in the Caribbean.
3. Anger (Part 3): There are unscrupulous people actually looting, price gouging and creating fake donation websites in a time of crisis. Disgusting!
4. Fear & Anxiety: After every hurricane comes disease outbreak, rising food prices and economic instability. Last year, western Jamaica was also hit with Hurricane Beryl and suffered unimaginable damage. Are major hurricanes now a yearly trend?
5. Survivor’s Guilt: I’m glad a term exists for the helplessness, despair and guilt which “survivors” face. I visited St. Elizabeth last weekend and the devastation is way worse than the images being shown in the media. Fallen electricity poles, impassable roads, flooding, and acres and acres of hopeless lifeless trees where vibrant greenery once stood. It’s impossible to feel OK, knowing that thousands of Jamaicans are suffering unfathomable loss. I’m trying to accept that I can’t help everyone in need– helping even one person is enough.
6. Grief: Not only for Jamaica, but also for our Haitian brothers and sisters who are already facing so much. 43 Haitians have been confirmed dead from Hurricane Melissa, and I fear they are not getting the same level of attention and foreign aid they deserve. Also, so many historic buildings like the Black River Parish Church are lost forever and it will take months before my favourite places such as the Blue Mountains are accessible again. They may also never look the same again– our forests lost huge trees which will take decades to reach their full height once replanted.
7. Gratitude: I’m so grateful for the countries which have offered us help in our time of need– too many to name, but the ones which stand out most for me are Venezuela and El Salvador. Venezuela is facing its own crisis, yet they used the little they have to help our people. Same for El Salvador– their country is recovering from decades of crime; Jamaica and El Salvador have both once held the unfortunate title of “Murder Capital of the World.” I hope we can repay these countries for their kindness to us some day.
8. Hope: Jamaicans are resilient people. We have suffered unimaginable pain and hardship, yet we have never lost hope nor our sense of humour– even now. We band together in times of difficulty; so many relief missions have been coordinated by ordinary citizens for our brothers and sisters out west, standing in while the government organizes a national recovery strategy.

Support Jamaica

If you’re able to support Jamaica’s recovery, here are some reputable options:

• Government of Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Relief
• American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ)
• Food for the Poor.
• Also, support my colleague Dr. Spence’s family: GoFundMe
• And Shane’s family: GoFundMe. I’d interviewed him some years ago here.

There are many more reputable charities and needy families out there, but always do your due diligence before donating to ensure the funds will be used responsibly. Also, Jamaica aims to reopen to tourism on December 15, 2025. If you have a vacation booked after this date, please don’t cancel. We need tourism dollars to help rebuild our economy.

Wrap Up

On a lighter note, my favourite artiste Chronixx released his second album Exile two weeks before the hurricane hit. His words have been a tower of strength; it’s almost like he knew the hurricane was coming, ha! Enjoy a few excerpts:

• “Keep on rising to the top now, keep on rising to the top. Fight with everything you got! Never give up, you level up, mek di devil fed up!” – Keep on Rising.
• “When the tides were so high and strong, you gave me shelter from the rain. On an open and raging sea, you rescued me. All the tears that I cried and pain was meant to be. In the eye of the hurricane, I heard you whispered and called my name. I am a witness of your quickness to rescue me.” – Hurricane.
• “I know it can feel like forever we’ve been struggling. Jah love is our strength, together we’re resilient.” – Resilient.

Keep Jamaica in your thoughts and prayers. ❤ Thanks for reading.