Jamaica Needs Us Now

In a press briefing, prior to Hurricane Melissa’s impending landfall, Daryl Vaz, Jamaican Minister for Energy, Science, Telecommunications and Transport, addressed the country: “Please, I’m making a special appeal because we are in a very, very serious time over the next few days and we need all Jamaica to band together. And most importantly, prayers up for every single Jamaican and Jamaica, land we love. God bless Jamaica.”

Today, Jamaica continues to need our prayers and support.

October 28, 2025, Category 5 Hurricane Melissa slammed into the coast of Jamaica with sustained winds of 185 mph. Government officials began preparations for the event days in advance, urging citizens to seek out one of 130 shelters.

Elaine Williams-Foster, 54, chose to stay in her home, located in the community of Zion, Trelawny. While trying to secure her door against the wind, she fell, sustaining bruises and lacerations to her head and face. The zinc portion of her roof was ripped away. Their nearby family home, where Elaine’s son lives, sustained roof and flood damage. Three feet of water flooded the downstairs portion of the structure, including a section Elaine’s daughter was currently having constructed. Her son sought shelter at a nearby high school. It, too, sustained damage. The government estimates 120,000 structures lost roofing, directly impacting 90,000 families.

While the winds may have abated, citizens now find themselves cut off from their regular sources of food, clean water, medical care and hygiene products as they work to repair or rebuild their homes and businesses.

The government of Jamaica and various NGOs from around the world are focused on providing these basic human necessities. Food distribution, including hot meals, is taking place across the nation. Mobile fuel trucks are being securely moved around communities to provide kerosine for cooking. Generators have been deployed to assist with electricity needs while they continue addressing the impact to important infrastructure. Starlink systems are reconnecting loved ones and helping coordinate response efforts.

In the days following Melissa’s destruction, Elaine was suffering from headaches and dizziness. She was able to get checked out at a nearby health center, but they did not have the necessary equipment operational to evaluate her head trauma. The same was true for another nearby center. A field hospital was set up on the other side of the island, but Elaine and other citizens have struggled to get access to their money, making it difficult to hire transportation.

While she was able to make it to the field hospital, where they x-rayed her arm, she was unable to get the CT scan she needed to address her head trauma. That requires another trip to a larger city, or funds to pay a nearby private doctor with those scanning capabilities. These are the types of situations we hope to address, with your support.