标签： Jamaica

The aftermath of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has left several communities in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, in a state of despair, with residents marooned and first responders struggling to access the hardest-hit areas. The storm, which struck on Tuesday, has caused widespread destruction, leaving roads impassable, homes destroyed, and communication lines severed.

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.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Trelawny, Jamaica, witnessed a significant police presence on Wednesday as officers worked tirelessly to clear the extensive damage left by the storm. A dedicated team of 30 police personnel, under the leadership of Superintendent Velonique Campbell, took to the streets armed with chainsaws and machetes to remove fallen trees that had obstructed major roadways.

Montego Bay, St James — Communities in Catherine Hall and Westgreen faced a daunting cleanup effort on Wednesday after Hurricane Melissa unleashed torrential rains and fierce winds on Tuesday. The storm caused the Barnett and Pye rivers to overflow, inundating homes with mud and water. Residents recounted harrowing experiences as they grappled with the aftermath.

Devon, a Catherine Hall resident, described the terrifying moment when floodwaters engulfed his home. ‘Everything was flooded,’ he lamented, noting that he narrowly escaped by climbing to an upper floor. The floodwaters, which rose higher than a person’s height, destroyed furniture and belongings before receding on Wednesday.

Another resident, who chose to remain anonymous, estimated that over 800 properties in Catherine Hall and Westgreen were affected. The cleanup process was further complicated by a lack of water, forcing residents to rely on a single pipe to wash mud from their homes and belongings.

The hurricane’s impact extended beyond residential areas. Vehicles were displaced by the floodwaters, with one car lodged against another and a trailer stuck against a median. The National Water Commission’s Bevin Avenue facility also suffered damage, as did the walls of the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre, MegaMart complex, and Grand Depot Supermarket.

Herbert Morrison Technical High School, a 49-year-old institution, was not spared. Sections of its roof were torn off, and a nearby road was compromised. Utility poles along Alice Eldemire Drive were downed, adding to the widespread destruction.

As residents worked tirelessly to restore their homes and lives, the scale of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation became increasingly apparent. The storm’s aftermath highlighted the urgent need for resources and support to aid recovery efforts in Montego Bay.