When Hurricane Melissa roared ashore on Jamaica’s southwest coast on October 28, 2025, it ripped more than roofs and fences. It tore into the lives of families fishing households, farmers, children, neighbors submerging futures in salt water and wind. As we work to awaken, remember and rebuild, these are ten families whose stories we must carry forward.
- The Davis Family: White House, Westmoreland
Fisherman Prince Davis lost nearly everything. His 50-foot boat took a gaping hole; his father’s boat vanished entirely. Their roof was torn off. With no ice, no power, no boat no fish market his small fishing business is suspended.
What they need: Roof sheeting + nails for the home. Boat repair materials. Ice chest + generator for preserving catch.
Why this matters: Fishing isn’t a side job it’s the lifeblood. With that gone, the family’s and children’s future are all at risk.
2. The Thorpe Family: Amity, Westmoreland
Denver Thorpe, a farmer and regional manager, watched his 15 acres of mango trees and two greenhouses disappear in hours. He said: “There’s absolutely nothing.”
What they need: New seedlings, greenhouse film and structure repair, basic tools.
Why this matters: For many in rural Jamaica, farming is generational. Losing the crop means losing heritage, income and identity.
3. The Morris Family: New Holland, St Elizabeth
When the Morris family home’s roof lifted off, Kimesha Morris and her three children ran for safety. Their school uniforms, books, beds all ruined in one sweep.
What they need: Mattresses, uniforms & school supplies, tarps and temporary roofing.
Why this matters: Restoration must include not just bricks and boards but kids’ education, sense of security, everyday dignity.
4. The Kerr Household: Lacovia, St Elizabeth
Shantalea Kerr sat amidst the rubble of her home, dazed. The community shelter absorbed many displaced families.
What they need: Shelter supplies, clean water & sanitation kits, rebuilding assistance.
Why this matters: When home is lost, the heart also wavers. Aid needs to move quickly so families can resettle and heal.
5. The Daley Household: Hanover
Lacy Daley, her five children and her mother’s family all lost roofs. They’re now sharing borrowed space. Water access is sparse.
What they need: Water filters/containers, tarps, bedding, hygiene kits.
Why this matters: Water + shelter are immediate survival needs without them children are at risk for illness & trauma.
6. The McGregor Household: Hanover
Tyrese McGregor described his home being lifted away by the wind. He sheltered with friends, but many around him are shut in by debris.
What they need: Tarps + nails, chainsaw/fuel for debris clearance, roof repair materials.
Why this matters: Delay in clearing and repairing leads to longer displacement, worse conditions.
7. The Powell Community Group: Greenfield, St Elizabeth
Monique Powell is helping neighbors from her front yard guarding looted groceries, distributing what little arrived. “People are hungry,” she said.
What they need: Food parcels, solar/generator lights, community distribution support.
Why this matters: When many families are affected, one community member can’t carry the load alone. We must bolster neighbors.
8. The Unnamed Family: St Elizabeth
They waded through chest-high floodwater as the storm tore their home apart. Now muck-out and mold are threatening what remains.
What they need: Muck-out kits, mold-treatment supplies, dehumidifiers, tarps.
Why this matters: A home soaked in water is a health risk without treatment, children fall ill, recovery stalls.
9. The Ferguson/McPherson Cousins: Cave Mountain/Kentucky district, Westmoreland
Charles Ferguson (78) died when his home collapsed. His cousin Winsome McPherson recounts days of reaching authorities and being cut off.
What they need: Rubble removal, temporary shelter, funeral support, psychosocial counseling.
Why this matters: Recovery must honor lives lost as well as rebuild lives still living.
10. Hospital Staff & Patients: Black River, St Elizabeth
At the hospital, staff evacuated patients by lantern light as windows blew out and the roof tore away. “Even the nurses were screaming,” one report said.
What they need: Generator, roof repair, essential medical consumables, support for staff.
Why this matters: Healthcare is a cornerstone of recovery if hospitals collapse, other help collapses.
Why These Stories Matter:
Because for every “community affected” number you read, behind it is a family. A boat. A crop. A sleeping child. A roof. These stories bring the abstract down to human.
These families are not victims they are resilient, heart-strong, unbroken souls facing devastation. They are part of our shared Jamaican story. As creators, storytellers, workers of hope, we get to bring not only awareness but connection, compassion, and concrete support.