Hurricane Melissa: Unimaginable Destruction Throughout the Caribbean
Throughout the last week of October, Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean, causing devastation throughout numerous communities within the islands.
Melissa originated from a tropical wave that moved quickly throughout the Atlantic throughout mid to late October. It then developed into a meandering tropical storm, quickly intensifying to category 5.
At peak intensity, Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28. The hurricane was Jamaica’s most intense on record. Melissa tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane and 2019’s Hurricane Dorian on its pressure and maximum sustained winds at landfall.
The impacts of this storm were particularly devastating for Jamaica, which faced the brunt of the storm. With wind speeds up to 185 mph and flash flooding, the storm ravaged several areas, leaving them looking unrecognizable. At the height of the storm, 77% of homes and businesses lost power. By November 3, 50% of homes were still without power. The storm caused the deaths of at least 32 people in Jamaica and up to $4.2 billion of insurance losses.
Dana Morris Dixon, the minister of education, skills, youth, and information, discussed the impact of the storm at a news conference, emphasizing that “the devastation in the west is unimaginable.” Dixon continued urging Jamaicans and the world to assist in any way they could through this painful period.
While Jamaica faced the full force of the storm, other areas of the Caribbean still experienced it at category 2 and 3 levels, causing immense damage there as well. Melissa tore a path through Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Bermuda before it finally went north back out to sea to dissipate.
At least 34 deaths within Haiti and 1 death within the Dominican Republic have been recorded, bringing the death toll up to 67 people. This number is expected to rise in the next few weeks as more of the damage is assessed. Throughout the Caribbean, 49 people have been reported missing. Additionally, thousands of people across the islands are now homeless or displaced. Overall, the storm has affected at least 400,000 people, destroying lives, homes, and communities.
If you are looking to help those within the Islands, there are several organizations who are accepting cash donations, including Airlink, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), and Direct Relief. These organizations are all working to provide various types of aid to the affected countries.
