Written for the Great Awakening Report

Jamaica: A Nation in Crisis

Across the island, the storm’s impacts were immediate and far-reaching. Roads were buried by landslides or washed out entirely, leaving whole communities cut off for days. A widespread communication failure plunged coastal regions into silence, with Jamaica’s overall Internet connectivity falling to roughly one-third of normal levels. In some of the hardest-hit districts, only satellite systems such as Starlink remained functional.

Power outages blanketed the island. More than 490,000 households—representing nearly 72% of all electricity customers—lost service, with several parishes experiencing a total blackout stretching well beyond the storm’s passage. Nearly 15,000 Jamaicans sought shelter at the height of Melissa’s assault, though many returned home once conditions allowed, only to find belongings destroyed or structures no longer standing.

Confirmed fatalities remain limited at this stage—just four lives officially counted—but authorities caution that the toll is almost certain to rise as isolated regions become accessible. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the entire nation a disaster zone, calling the devastation “heartbreaking” and acknowledging that several towns had been “completely destroyed.”

The Storm Pushes On: Cuba, the Bahamas & the Open Atlantic

After laying waste to western Jamaica, Melissa weakened slightly but remained a formidable Category 3 hurricane as it made its second landfall near Chivirico, Cuba early on October 29. Cuban officials mobilized swiftly, evacuating an estimated 735,000 people from vulnerable regions, a move that likely prevented massive loss of life.

From there, Melissa continued its destructive journey across the Caribbean, clipping the Bahamas with Category 1–level winds and storm surge before turning northeast toward Bermuda. Even as its intensity lessened, the storm delivered widespread flooding, coastal erosion, and prolonged power outages across several islands.

Humanitarian Response & Mounting Challenges

The international community began mobilizing resources before the storm even cleared the region. The United States pre-positioned military aircraft, assessment teams, and helicopters in Grand Cayman to support Jamaica’s relief efforts. Aid organizations across the Caribbean initiated coordinated emergency responses, though progress has been hindered by blocked roads, damaged airports, collapsed bridges, and fractured communication networks.

Health officials warn of severe secondary risks—particularly contaminated water supplies, compromised sanitation systems, and the growing threat of disease in overcrowded shelters. The combination of displacement, damaged infrastructure, and significant food-supply disruptions has created what relief coordinators describe as a “multi-layered humanitarian emergency.”

Regional Toll: A Widening Crisis

The broader Caribbean also suffered extensively. In Haiti, at least 25 deaths were confirmed due to flooding associated with Melissa’s outer rainbands. Additional fatalities were reported during storm preparations in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Damage assessments across multiple islands are ongoing, but early reports suggest regional losses will be significant.

Looking Ahead: Recovery Will Be Long and Difficult

As Melissa moves farther into the Atlantic, Jamaica and the surrounding region now face the monumental task of rebuilding. Restoring the electrical grid, reopening severed roadways, reestablishing communications, clearing debris, and stabilizing water systems will require months—possibly years—of concentrated effort and international support.

Beyond the immediate destruction, Hurricane Melissa underscores a broader concern echoed throughout the Caribbean: the increasing severity of Atlantic storms and the vulnerability of island nations with aging infrastructure and limited emergency resources. For many, Melissa is not only the worst storm in living memory—it is a warning of what may lie ahead.

The Great Awakening Report will continue monitoring recovery efforts, international aid coordination, and long-term regional impacts as additional information becomes available.