SEVERAL residents of St Elizabeth, whose roofs were ripped off by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in late October, beamed with joy last Thursday as they collected packages with material to help them cover their houses again.

This was made possible through a partnership involving TransJamaican Highway, Hardware & Lumber, and Dons Auto World in the Black River, St Elizabeth.

People involved in the distribution of the packages told the Jamaica Observer that they included zinc, ply boards, hurricane straps, nails and screws, with more than 500 distributed by late last week.

One resident of Thorton, Tedeshia Rowe, said she was grateful for every contribution, no matter how big or small.

“I was advised to come and pick up a small package and that it would consist of roofing material. My entire roof was removed by our dear sister Melissa. You know that from the roof gone, furniture and clothing and all that kind of thing [destroyed],” Rowe told the Observer.

According to Rowe, when warnings of the possible impact of the hurricane went out she was hesitant to move to a shelter with her two young children.

But once Rowe started to experience the hurricane’s wrath she grabbed the children and battled with heavy winds and pouring rain to move into the shelter at Thornton Primary School.

“I appreciate the donation here today. It won’t be enough to cover all the roof but I appreciate it. I left the house in the middle of the storm with my little babies and my grandmother who is in her 90s. The raindrops were big and heavy and were as if they were trying to pierce my chest like a knife.

“I had to grip the two babies because they couldn’t walk by themselves with all that breeze. The breeze was moving them and it was moving me as well. I had to brace. I went by the shelter at the Thornton Primary School. I had experiences with storms before and I was of the impression that this would be okay as well. I was on my verandah and I realised the zinc started coming off one by one. It was terrible and devastating. I never saw anything like this before,” added Rowe.

Albert Salmon, who transported a friend to pick up roof supplies, shared that he feels the donation will help his friend out a lot.

“If you lose 10 sheets of zinc and you get couple here, you have to be grateful,” said Salmon.

One member of the team distributing the relief supplies told the Observer that they will be out in the parking lot at Don’s Auto World in Black River handing out items up to Christmas, or until all the items are given out.

“The people are very happy because they said they haven’t seen anybody come with any material to put back their roofs. They said we were one of the first to give roof material. TransJamaican Highway has partnered with Hardware and Lumber to provide the material. In order to get verification the Ministry of Labour and Social Security would have to come, check your house, verify, and they would send us the names.

“These people here are from all over St Elizabeth — Magotty, Parottee, Thornton, Lacovia, and Santa Cruz. We are here Mondays to Fridays,” added the team member who asked not to be named.