Official damage assessment required for Hurricane Melissa housing repair or reconstruction assistance
Only structures that have been formally assessed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) will be eligible to receive a government grant for roof repairs or other reconstruction support.
The clarification was made at a Post Cabinet Press briefing Wednesday.
The government says the measure is intended to ensure fairness, accountability, and the proper targeting of limited public resources to households most in need.
Assessments are ongoing across affected parishes, and the Government is urging citizens to cooperate fully with assessment teams. Approximately 40,144 homes have been assessed up to December 9, 2025. This is nearly double the number of assessments conducted in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
The ministry says it will be accelerating the national damage assessment exercise in the coming weeks.
Citizens are encouraged to self-report damage to their homes to the MLSS via the report mechanism on the MLSS website (https://mlss.gov.jm/hurricane-melissa-reporting-form/) if they have not had an assessment. The ministry says the information will help it to prioritise and plan, especially in heavily impacted communities.
It is also seeking additional volunteers to complete assessments within the next few weeks. If any citizen is able to volunteer as an assessor, they are asked to indicate interest via email at clientcare@mlss.gov.jm.
