On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph). The storm’s powerful winds and torrential rains caused widespread devastation, leaving parts of the island completely destroyed.
Critical infrastructure — including roads, hospitals, schools, and emergency services — has been heavily damaged. Thousands of homes, farms, and businesses that sustain the nation’s economy have been impacted. As rescue operations continue, it will take time to assess the full scale of the disaster.
Authorities estimate that approximately 25,000 tourists remain stranded on the island, with relief and evacuation efforts underway.
Ways to Help
The Jamaican government has established an official online portal to coordinate relief initiatives and distribute aid efficiently. This site enables donations for temporary housing, emergency supplies, and critical funding for recovery.
Visit JAMAICA’s HURRICANE RELIEF PORTAL to find out how you can make a difference today.
Donate
Many respected international and local organizations have deployed teams to assist those affected by Hurricane Melissa. Your donations will go directly toward immediate relief and long-term rebuilding efforts.
- Donate directly to the Jamaican government – Funding immediate emergency response and recovery.
- Jamaica Red Cross – Providing food, shelter, and medical assistance across affected communities.
- Food For the Poor – Supplying food, generators, hygiene kits, and vital resources.
- Global Empowerment Mission – Deploying air and sea transport of food, water, and emergency equipment.
- South Florida Caribbean Strong – Miami-based group transporting donated supplies to Jamaica.
- Samaritan’s Purse – Air-lifting supplies into Jamaica, including shelter materials, water filtration systems, hygiene kits and medical teams. Samaritan’s Purse
- Project HOPE – Deploying emergency health and humanitarian teams in Jamaica, focusing on medical, water/sanitation and hygiene kit distributions. Project HOPE
- Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) – Based in Miami, with Caribbean operations; mobilizing cargo planes, warehouses and relief supplies for Jamaica.
- All Hands & Hearts – On the ground in Jamaica, performing immediate relief, clean-up and rebuilding operations, and distributing essential items.
- CARE – Mobilizing to deliver food, water, hygiene supplies and shelter support to communities affected by this hurricane.
- World Central Kitchen – Providing hot meals and nutritional support via local partners in Jamaica, responding immediately after the storm.
- United Way of Jamaica – Working locally in Jamaica to support disaster-affected households and coordinate recovery efforts on the ground.
Volunteer
If you are located in or travelling through or to South Florida, two major organizations are seeking volunteers to help prepare and ship emergency aid:
- South Florida Caribbean Strong (Miami, FL) – Volunteers needed for relief coordination and packaging.
- Global Empowerment Mission (Miami, FL) – Volunteers needed for logistics, supply management, and aid transport.
Together for Jamaica
Rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa will take time and compassion. Every donation, volunteer hour, or shared resource makes a difference in restoring hope and stability for families across Jamaica.
If you’re able to give, volunteer, or share this post, you’ll be directly supporting the recovery and resilience of the Jamaican people.
