Small business owners in Portland, Jamaica, are grappling with severe challenges following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm, which struck on October 28 with winds reaching 185 mph, left a trail of destruction, claiming over 40 lives and plunging nearly 80% of Jamaica Public Service (JPS) customers into darkness. While Portland was spared the worst of the storm, the economic fallout has been significant, particularly for local entrepreneurs.