We fared better in Kingston, but we are reeling from the horrors of the hurricane in our western parishes. Never has such a powerful hurricane visited our shores.

There are people in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth who have been left with absolutely nothing. Their homes and businesses have been flattened and roads broken and blocked. Areas in Hanover, St James, and Trelawny also sustained severe damage. The tears and hopelessness have cast a shadow over our entire country. We suffer with our people, some of them mourning the deaths of family members. Sadly, up to Saturday, the death toll had risen to 28, who perished in surges and landslides.

We had a glimpse of what was coming when on Monday we heard Jason Henzell relate the telephone call he had received from Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz. He said Vaz’s voice cracked when he advised that the storm had turned and was heading his way. Henzell’s Jake’s Treasure Beach had just been rebuilt after being hit last year by Hurricane Beryl. Tuesday’s storm surge overtook Jake’s, leaving little behind. Jake’s is a microcosm of Black River and Savanna-la-Mar. The destruction is unimaginable. Videos on social media carried by local and overseas media have shaken the world.

The response has been overwhelming: airlifts of tons of relief arrived in quick succession. Some of the first were from Shaggy and Sean Paul, who urged others to donate through Food for the Poor Jamaica (FFPJ). As a director, I can attest to FFPJ’s preparedness days before the hurricane and its islandwide network, led by Board Chair Andrew Mahfood and the Florida team. The Lyn Family Trust/@Island Grill and The American Friends of Jamaica worked with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), sponsoring the first cargo plane which arrived Thursday, bringing supplies to Black River on Saturday.

Island Grill, Mother’s, Juici, Tastee, and Chicken ‘n’ Tings have been collaborating with the Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen to deliver thousands of meals to the hurricane survivors. We understand that the Project Star (Social Transformation and Renewal) team also took hot meals to eight communities in Westmoreland yesterday.

Government Response

The daily Government press briefings chaired by Minister Dana Morris Dixon and addressed by ministry heads, meteorologist Evan Thompson, and Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) acting head Richard Thompson underlined the gravity of the system bearing down on Jamaica. Carrying the heavy responsibilities of local government, utilities, and health, we heard updates from ministers Desmond McKenzie, Daryl Vaz, and Dr Christopher Tufton.

Despite the pleas and transportation provided, only a few Jamaicans took advantage of the 881 shelters which were opened islandwide.

Congratulations to Minister Vaz, Jamaica Airports Authority, and PACKAL for the quick resumption of operations at Norman Manley and Donald Sangster airports. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andrew Holness promptly toured the hardest-hit areas, giving reassurance to the traumatised survivors.

Cabinet has also named committees to oversee various areas of recovery, led by principled and experienced individuals.

Building Back Stronger

As reported by the Jamaica Observer’s Dashan Hendricks: “Jamaica is set to receive a $24 billion (US$150 million) payout from its catastrophe bond, triggering a first-of-its-kind financial safety net as the country faces billions in damage from Hurricane Melissa.

“Disaster modeller Chuck Watson of Enki Research has estimated that Hurricane Melissa caused damage ranging between US$5 billion and US$16 billion. Watson, who previously worked on an Organisation of American States disaster mitigation project for the region and helped develop hurricane damage maps for Jamaica, told
Bloomberg the storm represented a worst-case scenario for the island.”

We acknowledge the vision of former Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke in initiating this Bond.

The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) has announced “that it will make a payout of US$70.8 million to the Government of Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. This marks the largest single payout in CCRIF’s history and is a powerful demonstration of the organisation’s parametric insurance model. Subject to final model verification, this payout will be made within 14 days, consistent with CCRIF’s commitment to speed, transparency, and fiscal responsiveness”.

CCRIF CEO Isaac Anthony noted: “This payout to Jamaica is not just a financial transaction, it is a reaffirmation of CCRIF’s mission to stand with our members in their most difficult moments. On behalf of the CCRIF board, management, and team, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the people of Jamaica. We are proud to support the Government’s swift response and recovery efforts, and we remain committed to helping build a more resilient and secure future for all.”

Jamaica was a founding member of CCRIF, established in 2007, so commendations to that People’s National Party (PNP) Administration for its role in creating this fund. We can also look forward to a second payout from the excess rainfall policy.

This column has been calling for the creation of no-build zones after various episodes of flooding and landslides. Hurricane Melissa has given us fair warning. Let us bring all available expertise on board to build back stronger.

Kudos Essential Services

Amidst the ruins, members of Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Jamaica Fire Brigade, ODPEM, and medical personnel showed their grit as they kept going throughout the disaster. We worry for their mental health as they have had to work through sleepless nights, attending to residents in a wasteland. Personnel at the Savanna-la-Mar and Black River hospitals continued to attend to patients while the hospitals lost sections of their roofs.

The flattened shops saw people scavenging for food while police officers tried to bring order. A shelter manager in Lacovia wept as she spoke of the needs of the people in her care. Their blankets had been soaked, and the elderly needed medication.

The JDF has been airlifting patients from Black River to Mandeville Regional Hospital and with the help of US helicopters and personnel successfully rescued a man in St Thomas who had been washed away. Jamaicans have been working along with these groups, and it was heart-warming to see our visitors also taking part in clean-up operations. One visitor from Iowa, while clearing debris, declared that after visiting over 100 countries, Jamaica is the best of them all and he has decided to make his home here. A ray of sunshine during these sad days.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP. Send comments to lowriechin@aim.com.

This Westmoreland community has been all but destroyed. Photo: Gavin Jones

Jamaica Defence Force soldiers deliver relief packages to Hurricane Melissa victims in Black River.