Hurricane Melissa leaves 90,000 families affected, 600+ schools damaged across Western Jamaica

Approximately 90,000 families in western Jamaica were directly affected by Hurricane Melissa, according to the initial damage assessment by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), which also reported that more than 120,000 buildings lost their roofs.

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Commander Alvin Gayle, newly appointed Director General at ODPEM, provided an update during a special Hurricane Melissa recovery briefing at Jamaica House on Thursday. While the National Works Agency (NWA), the Jamaica Fire Brigade, and other entities have restored access to many communities, at least 27 areas remain cut off, primarily in St. Elizabeth, St. James, and Trelawny.

“We are acutely aware that many communities are still marooned, cut off by flooding and landslides. As of this morning, there is some indication that some 27 communities remain marooned, primarily in the difficult to reach areas of St. Elizabeth, St. James and Trelawny,” Commander Gayle said.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in New Hope, Westmoreland, as a catastrophic category-five storm, leaving significant damage in sections of Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, and St. Ann. ODPEM, in collaboration with government ministries, the private sector, and international partners, is working daily to restore power, telecommunications, water, roads, and deliver aid. Commander Gayle added that the agency is finalizing its initial damage assessment report to help the government understand the needs of affected communities as recovery begins.

Damage to hundreds of schools

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, looks at damage to a classroom at the Manchester-based Holmwood Technical High School, during a visit to the institution on Sunday (November 2).

The education sector was also heavily impacted. Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, said more than 600 institutions sustained damage.

“In the affected parishes, we have a little bit over 450 schools that have been affected, and that’s across the board – infant schools, primary schools, secondary schools and also eight tertiary schools. So far, we’ve seen estimates of 616 institutions having some kind of damage,” she said.

Damages range from leaks to complete destruction. The Minister described the initial school repair bill as “humungous,” with a confirmed figure expected by next week.

“We have encouraged schools to open, and on Tuesday there were over 100 schools that had opened, so those that can, should open. Obviously, we need to have water at the school and it needs to be a safe environment,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

The Ministry plans to prioritize students taking Primary Exit Profile (PEP), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams. Temporary school structures, such as tents or makeshift classrooms, are being considered to ensure continuity of learning.

“We may have to use tents; we may have to get makeshift structures that our students can continue to learn in. We’ve started that process and I’ve already spoken to Keith (Co-Chair of the Private Sector Committee, Senator the Hon. Keith Duncan) – he’s looking at clear areas where we can put temporary shelters and I’ve said to him, while you’re doing that, look for spaces that could house a temporary school structure,” she said.

In some cases, tarpaulins may be used to cover roofs to allow schools to reopen. Dr. Morris Dixon also noted that independent schools were affected, and the government is committed to supporting them.

“We’re going to be flexible and everybody is going to be at school, but it will not look like regular school,” she added.

As recovery efforts continue, ODPEM and the Ministry of Education emphasized that rebuilding will take time, especially in remote communities and heavily damaged schools, as Jamaica begins to restore normalcy following Hurricane Melissa.