Jamaica is grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which has inflicted an estimated $8.8 billion in damages, marking the most costly natural disaster in the nation’s history. The World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) revealed that the storm’s impact equates to 41% of Jamaica’s 2024 GDP. Striking on October 28, 2025, as a Category Five hurricane with winds reaching 185 miles per hour, Melissa is one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded. The devastation has been extensive, with at least 45 fatalities, 15 individuals still missing, and thousands rendered homeless due to severe flooding and collapsed infrastructure. The United Nations has reported that 36,000 people are in urgent need of food assistance. In early November, Jamaica received a $150 million payout from its catastrophe bond, providing some financial relief, though it falls significantly short of the total estimated damages. Preliminary assessments indicate that homes bore the brunt of the destruction, accounting for 41% of the total damage, followed by infrastructure at 33%, non-residential buildings at 21%, and agriculture at 5%. While agricultural physical losses were relatively lower, the economic repercussions for farmers are expected to persist for months. World Bank Vice President Susana Cordeiro Guerra commended the resilience of the Jamaican people and affirmed the Bank’s commitment to aiding the country in rebuilding efforts. The damage estimate was derived from a GRADE assessment, a rapid evaluation tool funded by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery and Japan’s Ministry of Finance, aimed at providing governments with an early overview of recovery needs.