Hurricane Melissa

One Jamaica, One Heart:

Standing Together for Hurricane Recovery

On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall near Black River on Jamaica’s southwestern coast as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, tied with Hurricane Allen as the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, with maximum sustained winds reaching 185 mph. It carved a diagonal path across the island, triggering widespread flooding, landslides, and destruction on a scale Jamaica had never seen.

The Scale of Destruction

The numbers reveal only part of the story. The hurricane affected over 626,000 people and resulted in 45 deaths in Jamaica alone. Throughout the broader Caribbean, more than 5 million people were affected.

Current estimates indicate that the total damage and losses in Jamaica range from $8 billion to $15 billion — nearly a quarter of the country’s GDP.

The physical destruction was staggering:

  • Approximately 150,000 structures were damaged, with about 120,000 buildings—primarily in southwestern Jamaica—losing their roofs entirely. Around 24,000 buildings were declared total losses.
  • Out of 1,010 public schools in Jamaica, 721 were damaged, and 160 stayed closed six weeks after the storm.
  • Approximately 40% of Jamaica’s national health system was damaged.
  • The parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, Trelawny, and Hanover, which experienced the most severe effects of Melissa, lost all communication immediately after the storm.
  • In western Jamaica, nearly 200-year-old stone churches were reduced to rubble. Entire forests lost their leaves, severely impacting pollinators. The government confirmed that most crops in Jamaica’s breadbasket were completely destroyed.

Where Things Stand

Jamaica is in a sustained long-term recovery phase. Although notable progress has been achieved, the need remains substantial.

What has been achieved:

  • Jamaica’s three main international airports are now fully operational again, and about 71% of hotels have resumed business.
  • World Central Kitchen has provided over one million hot meals across western Jamaica.
  • As of January 28, 2026, Direct Relief has delivered more than 25 shipments of medicines and medical supplies, valued at over $10.9 million, to organizations working across Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.
  • The American Red Cross, working with the Jamaica Red Cross, launched a cash assistance program that enables families to register and access approved funds via MoneyGram.

What still needs to be done:

  • As of mid-December 2025, there are still 90 emergency shelters operating, providing refuge for nearly 950 individuals who haven’t returned home. Entire communities remain vulnerable, with at least 120,000 buildings still lacking roofs.
  • Organizations such as All Hands & Hearts stay active during the recovery phase, working to help families rebuild safe and resilient homes. They provide roof repair kits and conduct community training on Build Back Safer principles.
  • Schools, healthcare centers, and agricultural systems still need ongoing reconstruction efforts.
  • Hundreds of health centers and hospitals damaged by Melissa have needed temporary roofing solutions to safely reopen and resume patient care.

Our Commitment: United With Jamaica

The Ardenne Alumni Association Atlanta Chapter (AAAAC) stands in unwavering solidarity with Jamaica, our fellow alumni, and every family still navigating this long road to recovery. The storm may have lasted hours, but rebuilding takes years, and our commitment does not expire.

Beyond words, AAAAC has taken direct action. The chapter provided hurricane relief funding to the Jamaica Church of God, specifically to support roof and home repairs for individuals and families in communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa. We are proud to have played even a small part in helping restore safety, shelter, and dignity to those who lost so much

We will rise together. One Jamaica. One heart.