MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Scores of residents converged at the Mid-Island Service Station at the border of Manchester and St Elizabeth on Thursday, clutching cash in hand as they sought to refuel their vehicles and generators amid ongoing power and communication outages caused by Hurricane Melissa.

With ATMs still down across much of southern Jamaica and most service stations still out of operation, residents say the Gutters location is the only one currently dispensing fuel in the area.

Patrenia Kennedy, manager of the Mid-Island Service Station, told Observer Online that the supermarket located on the premises has also been a lifeline for residents to restock food and household essentials.

“We are a full-fledged supermarket, so we’ve been having food items going off the shelves like crazy,” she said. “We’re in dialogue with our suppliers and they’re not here yet, but most are on their way. Bread is finished, as you would imagine but we have other essential items.”

While operations continue at the Gutters station, many nearby communities remain cut off, with significant damage to homes, roads and farmlands.

Imran, a resident from nearby Prospect in Manchester, described the situation as dire.

“It crazy man, very crazy. Right now the people down there need help,” he said, urging government officials to visit the area and assess the devastation first-hand.

“Mi would want the big heads to come in and see wah gwaan in the place. A lot of people need help. A the wickedest thing me ever see, bredda. Beryl nuh compare nothing to this. Beryl a baby to this storm,” he added.

Imran said students have lost school uniforms and books, adding to the mounting hardship faced by families in the wake of the Category 5 hurricane.

— Kasey Williams