Jamaica Observer has a special supplement on the hurricane season in its online edition. Log on to www.jamaicaobserver.com to check out the 24-page feature which provides readers with predictions for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, insights on preparedness of different sectors, and expectations on heat and rainfall levels during the June to November 30 rainy period. This is one of the many stories.

STILL living in a badly damaged home a year after it was gutted by Hurricane Beryl, a 77-year-old woman in Portland Cottage, Clarendon, is receiving help from neighbours to carry out much-needed repairs on the one-bedroom dwelling.

During a visit to the community the Jamaica Observer met Derrick Anderson, a returning resident who said he was focused on assisting Hazel McLean whose house lost its roof during the hurricane which brushed the southern coast of Jamaica on July 3, 2024, leaving a trail of destruction in Clarendon, St Elizabeth and Manchester.

“I stand on my veranda and witnessed storm blowing and tree blowing down… I lose a few fruit trees,” Anderson said.

However, his neighbour’s loss was much worse — the roof over her head.

Anderson brought the Sunday Observer team to McLean’s home, where she sat on a chair outside on the cracked concrete floor of her partially repaired house. McLean said she was staying with a friend when Hurricane Beryl hit, but returned to find that her roof had been completely blown off.

“When mi reach back, housetop gone and the people dem pick up the zinc dem so mi couldn’t get dem fi put back on; so, wi get some pieces a zinc and put on. And then dem never stay good — so the rain dew, so me wet up again,” she said.

She explained that she received $150,000 from the Government, which she is currently using to repair the house columns and toilet. However, the roof remains incomplete, leaving the elderly woman worried over what will happen if another storm hits.

“It nuh fix, so if it come again you know seh mi gone again,” she said.

Anderson noted that a charity organisation had started to fix McLean’s roof but halted the project after expressing concerns about the structural condition of the house.

“They couldn’t go on the roof because the house did buss up and the water buss up the house. They were afraid to go on the top so we get that fixed now… they say material done so we are still waiting on them,” Anderson said.

However, he said the structure is still not safe.

“This house can’t even take hurricane now. Just breeze blow off the zinc, cause kotch we kotch them on,” Anderson said.

McLean added that when it rains, she is forced to catch and dispose of the water using a plastic bathtub. Her dresser was damaged, and both her television and radio no longer work.

“Just sit down suh, can’t do nothing for myself,” she said, pointing to her walking stick. “Me like fi work, me like fi do something… [but] me have to just sit down suh.”

Anderson said the condition of the house affects McLean’s daily life.

“It turn her off because she can’t get to tidy her place and change her little curtain. All her bed deh pull up, because if you fix it, when the rain fall the water going wet [it] up,” he said.

Karl Golding, another long-time resident of the area, has also pitched in.

“A me put on the zinc the other day so the water nuh come drown her,” he said, adding that he used roof sealant to patch areas of the roof.

Golding said he has known McLean since he was a boy and wanted to help where he could. Anderson added that McLean has a daughter who lives overseas but is unable to provide consistent support.

Anderson was also affected by Beryl but says he’s “okay for the time being”, as he remains focused on ensuring McLean’s home is repaired before another hurricane hits.

Derrick Anderson pointing to the damage to his neighbour Hazel McLean’s roof.

Karl Golding points to a crack in the structure of Hazel McLean’s house.