Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope on Jamaica’s southwestern coast this morning as a Category 5 storm, bringing 185 mph winds and torrential rainfall. The storm is now the fifth-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, more powerful than Hurricane Katrina at its peak, and it’s tearing through Caribbean nations where Black communities are bearing the brunt of its devastating force.
“Jamaica, this is not the time to be brave,” warned Desmond McKenzie, the minister coordinating disaster response. “Don’t bet against Melissa. It is a bet we can’t win.” His urgent plea echoes warnings from U.S. National Weather Service forecasters, who called this the “last chance to protect your life.” Yet officials remain deeply concerned that not enough people are heeding evacuation orders.
The rapid intensification of Hurricane Melissa tells a familiar and frightening story about our warming planet. Caribbean water temperatures are far warmer than usual, creating ideal conditions for storms to strengthen at alarming rates. What climate scientists have long warned about is playing out in real time: stronger, more destructive hurricanes that threaten to become the new normal for Caribbean communities.
The hurricane’s eye wall winds are so powerful that the National Hurricane Center warns of “total structural failure” across affected areas. Widespread power and communication outages are expected to leave communities isolated and unable to call for help. At least three people have died in connection to storm preparations, and thirteen others were injured before the hurricane even made landfall.
Jamaica faces a direct hit, with the entire island experiencing violent winds and catastrophic flooding. For a nation still recovering from previous storms and ongoing economic challenges, Melissa represents not just immediate danger but the threat of long-term displacement and generational economic setbacks for Jamaican families.
Haiti’s situation is particularly dire. Already destabilized by years of political crisis and still recovering from the devastating 2010 earthquake, the country is woefully unprepared. The World Food Program has positioned just 450 metric tons of food in Haiti, a fraction of what the United Nations agency normally has on standby for natural disasters there.
While Hurricane Melissa gained strength over abnormally warm waters, the infrastructure meant to protect communities from such disasters has been weakened. The Trump administration has slashed the number of employees at agencies traditionally responsible for planning for and responding to natural disasters. The National Weather Service continues its essential work of data-gathering and updates during the ongoing government shutdown, but it’s operating at significantly reduced staffing levels.
How to Help
As Hurricane Melissa continues its destructive path through the Caribbean, there are concrete ways to support affected communities. Every donation, every share, every act of solidarity matters:
Donate to these organizations:
- Red Cross Caribbean (redcross.org)
- World Food Programme (wfp.org)
- Direct Relief (directrelief.org)
- UNICEF Caribbean (unicef.org)
- Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (cdema.org)
Stay informed through:
- National Hurricane Center (nhc.noaa.gov)
- Jamaica Observer (jamaicaobserver.com)
Continue to share and amplify what’s happening in the Caribbean to help communities on the ground receive direct aid.