BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — With no roofs over their heads and some with no walls around them, residents in some sections of St Elizabeth are continuing to appeal for help, even as Government and non-governmental organisations roll out emergency relief supplies.

Days after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa tore through the main south-western section of the island, residents of hard-hit St Elizabeth are continuing to share their scary experiences during the massive system.

Bus driver Hopeton Dwyer, otherwise called Humfrey, told the Jamaica Observer, “My house is gone and I lost a school bus. I transported Hampton and Munro students. I am going to Crawford where I live. I have to stay in one of the buses, because I have no choice. Everything is flat. The sea came right over and I live on the main.”

Sackeem Leslie, a resident of Whitehall, had a similar story.

“My entire house caved in. In the middle of the storm I had to run over to my mother’s house. We were in the deck bathroom and she was holding the door for eight hours to keep us safe. It wasn’t anything pretty. Up by Whitehall is destroyed. Loss of homes all over. We are just hanging on and giving God thanks that lives were spared. All we have to do is keep the faith,” said Leslie.

In the meantime Black River resident Fabian Williams recounted his harrowing time during Melissa.

“I was at home and when the water took it away and we had to run to higher ground. Water was up to my waist. We were in the storm for about two to three hours. We sleep in a family house, [the roof] blow off same way, but is not all of it,” said Williams.

— Kasey Williams

Whitehall resident Sackeem Leslie said her entire house caved in.

Black River resident Fabian Williams remembers having to run to higher ground after Melissa took his house.