ST. ANN, Jamaica (FN) — Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction across Jamaica’s north coast, displacing families, toppling trees, and plunging entire communities into darkness. In the hard-hit parish of St. Ann, residents awoke to find roofs torn off and streets blocked by debris.
The storm made landfall Tuesday evening with sustained winds of 185 miles (nearly 300 kilometers) per hour, tying the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as one of the most intense ever recorded. Torrential rains and violent gusts battered coastal towns, overwhelming infrastructure and flooding low-lying areas.
George “Larry” Brown, a 68-year-old fisherman from the Priory community, said the day began with light rain but quickly escalated. “By five o’clock, the wind just started howling. Then I heard a sound, and the roof was gone,” he said. “Gilbert is no match to this,” he added, referencing the infamous 1988 hurricane.
Brown’s neighbor, Kayan Davis, a mother of three, said her roof was lifted off around 11 p.m. “I have nowhere to sleep,” she said. “I’m going to have to contact the authorities.” Like many others, Davis is now seeking temporary shelter.
Marvin Thomas, a janitorial worker, narrowly escaped injury when a tree crashed onto his home around 8 p.m. “The tree dropped, and the housetop started to demolish,” he said. “I had to run out and go to a friend’s place.” Thomas said the financial burden of rebuilding is overwhelming.
Emergency crews and residents have begun clearing blocked roads to allow aid and supplies to reach affected areas. “We noticed quite a few trees down on the main road,” said one local volunteer. “We’re trying to keep it clear so help can come through.”
In the town of Bog Walk, south of St. Ann, bar owner Maureen Samuels narrowly avoided disaster when a large tree fell just inches from her business. “Thanks be to God the bar wasn’t damaged,” she said. However, she noted that others weren’t as fortunate. The nearby Rio Cobre overflowed, damaging homes and a local hog farm.
Government officials have yet to release a full damage assessment, but early reports indicate widespread structural losses and power outages across multiple parishes. Relief agencies are mobilizing to provide food, water, and temporary housing.
Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) urged residents to remain cautious and avoid flooded areas. “We are working with local authorities to assess needs and coordinate relief,” an ODPEM spokesperson said.
As the island begins the long road to recovery, many residents are left grappling with uncertainty. “We’ve lost everything,” said Davis. “But we’re alive. That’s what matters now.”
