Aid Rushes to Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa Leaves Devastation in Its Wake
Tens of thousands of Jamaicans are struggling without power, shelter, or basic necessities, as the full extent of the damage wrought by Hurricane Melissa becomes apparent. The storm's Category 5 fury has left at least four people dead and over 130 roads impassable, with an estimated 72% of the island still without electricity.
Across the United States, a concerted effort is underway to provide relief to those affected in Jamaica. In Key West, Florida, Project DYNAMO, a nonprofit organization made up of military veterans, is mobilizing resources to support Jamaicans and stranded Americans alike. The team is providing crucial supplies such as food, water, and tarps, while also offering flights home for those who need it most.
"We have Americans in trouble," said James Judge, team leader for Project DYNAMO. "They're in a very bad area right now, experiencing arguably the worst experience of their life." The group's work is taking place against the backdrop of Jamaica's own struggles to cope with the aftermath of the storm.
At the Global Empowerment Mission, near Miami, dozens of volunteers are working tirelessly to pack essential supplies for survival. Among them is Shanna Ford, a Jamaican-American who is deeply personal to her connection to the island. Her father, still in Kingston, rode out the storm, and she herself was left feeling "nerve-wracking" as the full extent of the devastation became clear.
Ford's experience highlights the far-reaching impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica. The global community has rallied around the island nation, with volunteers flocking to south Florida from across the globe to support those affected.
"We have the second-largest Jamaican diaspora community in south Florida," explained Michael Capponi, president of the Global Empowerment Mission. "If you're Jamaican, you cannot just sit home and watch this on the news. So they're all here coming every hour." As the response to the crisis grows, it remains clear that Jamaica's people will require sustained support in the weeks and months ahead.
Tens of thousands of Jamaicans are struggling without power, shelter, or basic necessities, as the full extent of the damage wrought by Hurricane Melissa becomes apparent. The storm's Category 5 fury has left at least four people dead and over 130 roads impassable, with an estimated 72% of the island still without electricity.
Across the United States, a concerted effort is underway to provide relief to those affected in Jamaica. In Key West, Florida, Project DYNAMO, a nonprofit organization made up of military veterans, is mobilizing resources to support Jamaicans and stranded Americans alike. The team is providing crucial supplies such as food, water, and tarps, while also offering flights home for those who need it most.
"We have Americans in trouble," said James Judge, team leader for Project DYNAMO. "They're in a very bad area right now, experiencing arguably the worst experience of their life." The group's work is taking place against the backdrop of Jamaica's own struggles to cope with the aftermath of the storm.
At the Global Empowerment Mission, near Miami, dozens of volunteers are working tirelessly to pack essential supplies for survival. Among them is Shanna Ford, a Jamaican-American who is deeply personal to her connection to the island. Her father, still in Kingston, rode out the storm, and she herself was left feeling "nerve-wracking" as the full extent of the devastation became clear.
Ford's experience highlights the far-reaching impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica. The global community has rallied around the island nation, with volunteers flocking to south Florida from across the globe to support those affected.
"We have the second-largest Jamaican diaspora community in south Florida," explained Michael Capponi, president of the Global Empowerment Mission. "If you're Jamaican, you cannot just sit home and watch this on the news. So they're all here coming every hour." As the response to the crisis grows, it remains clear that Jamaica's people will require sustained support in the weeks and months ahead.
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anyway, back to hurricane melissa... can't imagine having to deal with 72% of no electricity for so long 
project dynamo seems like a great initiative, but u feel me? how about the infrastructure in jamaica gets fixed instead of just dumping aid from the outside in? it's not all about us Americans, ya get me? 
. I mean, we've had some bad storms here too, but this one seems like a total disaster. The fact that Americans are stepping up to help is amazing tho 
. Project DYNAMO and the Global Empowerment Mission are doing incredible work, it's so inspiring to see people from all over coming together to support those in need 
. And Shanna Ford's story is heartbreaking 
. Jamaica needs all the help it can get right now. Hope everyone stays safe & gets the support they need 
It's amazing to see people from all over coming together like this 
People are powerless when they don't know what power is... 
they need our help ASAP, you feel? it's crazy how thousands are left without power or shelter... my heart goes out to those people struggling. what's even crazier is the global community coming together to support them - from florida to miami, folks are rolling up their sleeves to help 
. People from all over the world are coming together to help those in need – it's truly heartwarming 
. It just goes to show that we're all connected and capable of making a difference when we work together 
. I mean, what's the catch? Are they just looking for a PR stunt or something? And why do we have to foot the bill while Jamaicans are expected to fend for themselves on their own? It's not like they're doing anything to help the US with its own infrastructure problems... meanwhile, our roads are still flooded from that last hurricane 
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. Like, can you even imagine not having power or water for days? 
My kids would freak out if their favorite video game was taken away for that long! 
But seriously, it's a total nightmare situation. I'm so glad there are people like James Judge and his team from Project DYNAMO who are stepping up to help those in need 
. It just goes to show that even when disaster strikes, we can come together as a community to make a difference 
. It just goes to show that we're all connected and can make a difference when we come together 
.
my cousin's friend's sister is actually from there and she just messaged me saying her whole family lost power and they're struggling to get food and water