LUCEA, Hanover — A 78-year-old grandmother in this parish is living a nightmare she never imagined.

Hurricane Melissa stole her only child, leaving her to pick through the wreckage of his shattered house and become mother once more to his three grieving sons who lost their mother four years ago.

“The housetop blew off, everything wet up, furniture mash up, everything,” Elaine Smith told the
Jamaica Observer last Wednesday, her voice heavy with the memory of that terrifying night last October when the Category 5 storm unleashed its fury across Jamaica’s south- and north-western parishes.

Smith’s 57-year-old son, who suffered from asthma, was caught in the deluge as Melissa ripped apart his house in Lucea. The stress and exposure exacerbated his condition, leading to a severe asthma attack.

He received treatment at hospital and was released. However, shortly after, things took a turn for the worse. Her son, weakened and stressed, was rushed back to hospital, but by the time he arrived it was too late.

“He was a dead man,” shared Smith, the pain of the loss still raw. Her only child she said God blessed her with was gone, leaving behind his three children, now orphaned.

Smith, who had previously worked for 34 years at the Hanover Infirmary and is living on her pension, immediately stepped up to fill the void. She left her home in Hopewell, about 15 miles away, to care for her grandsons — ages 14, 17, and 19 — who are all currently attending high schools in Hanover and St James.

“I have to leave everything and put it down and come and look out [for them] because they have to go to school,” she said, highlighting her unwavering commitment to their education. It’s what her son would have wanted, she said.

The challenges, however, are immense. The family is living in a partially rebuilt home. While the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hanover Western Heatha Miller Bennett initially promised assistance with materials to construct a single room, Smith said that this is insufficient for herself and her three grandsons.

Furthermore, the assistance promised by the MP, through an initiative called ‘Help Me Fix My Roof’ implemented by Miller Bennett, is yet to materialise.

Miller Bennett said the initiative, which was launched a week before the Christmas holidays, is facing challenges securing building materials as there is has been a shortage following the October 28, 2025 storm.

Despite the challenge, Miller Bennett revealed that, to date, more than 15 people have benefited from the initiative which aims to help at least 2,000 people fix their roofs.

“We are going full force in the new year to make sure that persons benefit from this initiative,” Miller Bennett said.

“This initiative was born out of just going around in the communities and seeing the damage that took place after Melissa. Many of these homes are wooden structures… that we know are not ideal, and we wish we could build some concrete structures, which is something that we’re hoping that the Government will assist with,” she said.

“But at the moment persons need their roof covered. We have given them some tarpaulins but it can only cover so much and no more. It rains; it is still not where they want to be, and so we thought that at least [we can] fix back these roofs for now to make sure that, you know, give the persons some pride, some hope in living, making them feel at least secure right now,” the MP added.

Amid the adversity, St Phillip and James Roman Catholic Church in Lucea, which itself had significant roof damage from the hurricane, has emerged as a beacon of hope for the family.

Smith, a devout Catholic, shared how her priest has been instrumental in their recovery.

She said the priest rallied support, providing material to fix parts of the roof, start the flooring, and address some window issues. Crucially, the priest also ensures the grandchildren receive money for school travel and lunch every week.

“I started it because I could not wait — because I didn’t want to die and leave my three grandchildren — because it was a piece of tarpaulin that was over the house,” Smith told the
Sunday Observer.

“It is cold at night; and when rain falls we have to sit up at night [in a corner] and that is why my priest had to reach out to us. Sometimes he would call and say, ‘Elaine, my heart goes out because I know that rain is falling,’ ” she shared.

However, much remains to be done. The house still lacks proper flooring, side walls, and doors. Windows also need repair. She is now awaiting the MP’s promised assistance to finish the repairs.

“It’s only the three grandchildren that I have now so I’m asking for any help out there. Help us. We need furniture, items in the house and everything so please, help,” Smith pleaded.

“We have a chicken coop empty right now, and that is our living so we need some layer [chicks] that we can go ahead with,” added Smith.

Similarly, the boys, who lost some of their textbooks, are in need of electronic items such as a computer to assist them with their studies.

The eldest son, who is attending Cornwall College in St James, is working towards becoming a doctor. The second eldest, who attends Green Island High School in Hanover, wants to become a firefighter, while the youngest, who is attending Rusea’s High School in Hanover, wants to become an accountant.