Velecia Ewen shows the two mattresses on the floor that her family of five has been sleeping on in the Petersfield High School teachers’ cottage where they have been living after Hurricane Melissa last October. (Photo: Anthony Lewis)
October 30, 2026
A year in limbo
Families displaced by Melissa stuck at emergency shelter
One year after Hurricane Melissa devastated Westmoreland and left dozens of families homeless, several displaced residents remain stuck in an emergency shelter, their frustration mounting as promised relief remains elusive.
More than a dozen people, mostly families, are still housed in the teachers’ cottage at Petersfield High School, where they were relocated after initially taking refuge in the main school building.
For Velecia Ewen, a displaced resident of Pullet Lane, and others sharing the cramped shelter, the desire to move on with their lives is growing increasingly urgent.
Full story on Pages 6&7
