Wishing Safety and Strength to Jamaica, Haiti and Surrounding Areas

Hey everyone please keep the people of Jamaica and Haiti in your thoughts and assess how you can offer support right now. Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of at least 165 mph, is bearing down on the region. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued urgent warnings:

• Up to 40 inches of rain 
• 13 feet of life-threatening storm surge
• 160+ mph sustained winds 

Together, these forces are expected to bring about widespread and life threatening destruction.

For Jamaica, this could be the strongest hurricane ever recorded to make landfall, an unprecedented event that will test the island’s resilience like never before. Coastal communities face the terrifying threat of total inundation, while inland areas are bracing for flooding, mudslides, and the collapse of already strained infrastructure. Homes, schools, hospitals, and power grids are expected to suffer devastating blows. Communication lines will likely be cut, leaving families unable to reach loved ones.

Meanwhile, Haiti—a nation already enduring immense hardship—stands at the brink of another humanitarian crisis. The storm’s slow movement means southern Haiti could face days of torrential rainfall, triggering catastrophic flash floods and deadly landslides. Many communities, already struggling with fragile infrastructure and limited resources, could find themselves completely isolated. The risk of mass displacement, food insecurity, and waterborne diseases will rise sharply in the aftermath.

If you are interested in helping, please go to the following websites:

• https://www.projecthope.org/news-stories/responses/hurricane-melissa-how-to-help/
  
• https://supportjamaica.gov.jm/
  
• https://hopeforhaiti.com/