The aftermath of Hurricane Melissa has left the coastal community of Priory in St Ann, Jamaica, grappling with devastation and uncertainty. Kayan Davis, a mother of three, faced the harrowing reality of losing her roof during the Category 5 storm, which struck with winds reaching 185 miles per hour. ‘The zinc was flying off,’ Davis recounted, clutching her nine-year-old daughter. ‘I have nowhere to sleep.’ Her plight mirrors that of her neighbor, fisherman George Brown, who described the hurricane as the worst he has ever witnessed, surpassing even Hurricane Gilbert in intensity. Marvin Thomas, a janitorial services provider, also suffered significant damage when a mango tree crashed onto his home, destroying the roof. Despite the despair, stories of resilience emerged. Adina Higgins, a 62-year-old resident, opened her home to neighbors seeking refuge during the storm. ‘We took them in and they slept for the night,’ Higgins said, providing beds and warm clothes to those in need. As the community begins the arduous task of rebuilding, the scars of Hurricane Melissa serve as a stark reminder of nature’s fury and the strength of human compassion.