Dear Editor,

Hurricane Beryl ravaged sections of our island, with parishes such as Clarendon, Manchester, and St Elizabeth among those hit hardest.

To date, many residents from the aforementioned parishes, among others elsewhere, are still reeling from the effects of the devastation caused by Beryl. On top of that, many rural communities are still without electricity and water despite the best efforts of Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and National Water Commission (NWC). In the same breath, many of these areas have telecommunications issues, thus limited range and little to no internet connectivity. And to worsen their misery, they are afflicted by an infestation of mosquitoes.

Certainly, these conditions are most uncomfortable, and the fact that some of these communities won’t return to normality within the next hour is quite painful.

In the aftermath of a disastrous hurricane, empathy is a key competence to demonstrate. In basic terms, empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is putting one’s feet in the shoes of another. It speaks to our humanity as a people and the ability to unite for a common cause, despite personal, political, and religious differences.

Outside of corporate social responsibility and personal or professional branding, it is empathy that drives (should drive) many individuals and companies to engage in philanthropic activities to help those critically in need. We have witnessed the sacrifices made by many individuals and entities, including artistes and influencers, to assist our fellow countrymen with food and hardware supplies. Commendations are in order for your great work.

After a natural disaster strikes, it is imperative to get the economy back on track to avoid detrimental repercussions. Businesses strive on income; therefore, it is crucial to get employees back to work in the shortest possible time. However, it must be acknowledged that it is an entire ecosystem that is at work to guarantee full restoration, including JPS, NWC, the National Works Agency, among others.

Equally important is employers’ approach to communicating with employees during and after a crisis. While it is important to balance lives and livelihoods, it must be done from a place of empathy. Unfortunately, not much attention is given to post-disaster trauma.

Many people’s routines have been disrupted due to the hurricane. Some have lost roofs, some have been flooded, and some have experienced damage to their furniture and appliances. In addition, some of the working class people have to address not only the destruction sustained at their personal homes but those of other relatives. People have to find crisis money that was never budgeted.

Returning to work immediately after a hurricane such as Beryl is not an easy feat. People’s minds are preoccupied with how they are going to fully recover. There are folks who have witnessed the devastation of properties they have sacrificed years to build or purchase. Many of them have no insurance. Some are concerned about another threatening weather system as we are constantly reminded that this is expected to be a very active hurricane season.

While we want our economic and production activities to resume with efficiency, let us be mindful to check on each other’s well-being in a sincere manner. People are going through a lot, so let us ‘rock’ (reach others through compassion and kindness).

Oneil Madden

Maddenoniel@yahoo.com