In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage through Jamaica, communication systems collapsed, leaving countless families isolated and desperate for news of their loved ones. On Wednesday, Jamaicans from across the island, including some from as far as Kingston, flocked to St Elizabeth in a determined effort to locate their relatives and assess the damage to their properties. The journey was fraught with challenges, as downed trees and power lines turned what should have been a 15-minute drive into a grueling five-hour ordeal. Among the travelers was an amputee known as ‘One Foot Carl,’ who, armed with a power saw and gasoline, joined a slow-moving caravan of vehicles to help clear the roads. Supported by his crutches, Carl worked alongside Jamaica Defence Force soldiers to remove blockades, demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Another traveler, Jerome Steadman, made light of the situation, joking about his sister sharing the hurricane’s name. Despite a flat tire, Steadman remained undeterred in his mission to check on his home in Kingston, which he feared had been flattened by the storm. Stefan Wisdom, traveling with his infant son and Steadman, was also on a mission to salvage what remained of his house, which a friend had reported as destroyed. In Lacovia, residents recounted their harrowing experiences of battling the hurricane to preserve their lives and property. Mario White, who sheltered behind a single sheet of zinc for three hours, described how the storm forced him to retreat with his TV and medication as everything around him began to lift off. Omar Perry, another Lacovia resident, fought tirelessly to keep his front door from blowing off, only to find his partner’s shop flattened and carried across the road by the storm. Despite his exhaustion, Perry was determined to rebuild his roof to provide shelter for his family. Shantalea Kerr and her brother Shawn, who had evacuated their home fearing the storm’s strength, returned to find their family house leaning to the side, its roof gone. Shawn, who had sought refuge in a car during the storm, recounted how the wind had flipped open the car’s bonnet, cracking the windscreen. Despite the overwhelming destruction, the residents of St Elizabeth remained resolute, refusing to abandon their journey to access other affected areas like Holland Bamboo and Black River. Their determination and resilience in the face of such devastation serve as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Jamaican people.