Category 5 hurricane that struck Jamaica was catastrophic.

Hurricane Melissa category 5 slammed into New Hope, Westmoreland on October 28, 2025, with sustained winds of 185 mph and storm surges that reached up to 13 feet high the southern and western coastline. The hurricane was the strongest ever recorded in Jamaica, and it tied the record for the most powerful landfall in the Atlantic Basin in more than a century.

The western parishes are Westmoreland, Hanover, and St. Elizabeth bore the brunt of the storm. Satellite images showed that entire neighborhoods were washed away, causing fishing villages like White House and towns like Black River to be reduced to rubble.

The impact of the human toll on the community

• At least 19 people lost their lives in Jamaica .
• Roofs were torn off, homes collapsed, and floodwaters swallowed communities, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.
• infrastructure: Roads, bridges, and power lines were destroyed, cutting off access to rural areas. Sangster International airport in Montego Bay was severely damaged and the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston was shut down.
• Livelihoods: Farmers in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica’s ‘breadbasket parish’, saw entire fields of yam, sugarcane, and vegetables wiped out. Fishing fleets along the western coast were wiped out, crippling local economies.

The aftermath of hurricane Melissa

The storm’s slow movement compounded the disaster, dumping torrential rain that triggered landslides in hilly areas and flash floods in low-lying towns. For days, communities like Savanna-la-Mar and Lucea were submerged.Let’s just go back in time to 1988. The damage caused by Hurricane Melissa was greater than that caused by Hurricane Gilbert, a category 3 hurricane that hit Jamaica in 1988. With Hurricane Gilbert, the entire island was destroyed. Remember that Gilbert started from Portland, Jamaica, and went straight across the island.

Hurricane Melissa entered St. Elizabeth Parish from the south and slowly moved northwest at a speed of around 3 miles per hour. The short track of Hurricane Melissa that it took was more devastating than that of Hurricane Gilbert.

I knew that in the future we were going to experience a huge disaster. Throughout the years, we have had near misses. But there was always a warning from the person who has visions and dreams about tsunamis and hurricanes. People have been warned throughout the years that God is not pleased with our island’s way of living. 

 I am always concerned about the high crime rate and the amount of killing in our cities.I am of the opinion that GOD is aware of when a nation’s sin spirals out of control, leading to people acting evilly. Therefore, we should be mindful of the way we live our lives on a daily basis. 

The nation is mourning, but the people are resilient

Hurricane Melissa will be remembered not only for its unmatched ferocity but also for the resilience of Jamaicans. Across the island, neighbors helped neighbors—sharing food, clearing debris, and comforting the grieving. Churches opened their doors as shelters, and diaspora communities abroad mobilized donations. Despite this, the catastrophe also posed urgent questions about climate resilience. Experts warn that warming seas are fueling stronger and slower storms, making small island nations like Jamaica increasingly vulnerable.

Looking Forward

I thought that hurricane Melissa could have started from the eastern side of Jamaica, but the almighty God says no, preventing it from taking that path.I noticed that a building with a concrete roof was also blown away. During my years of hurricane experiences, I have never witnessed anything like that experience.

It will take years to recover. Rebuilding homes, restoring agriculture, and reviving tourism — the lifeblood of western Jamaica — will require massive investment and international solidarity. The spirit of Jamaica is unbreakable, as history has shown. Out of the wreckage of Hurricane Melissa, the island is already beginning the long journey towards renewal.