Devastation and Disaster: The Impact of Hurricane Melissa
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What Happened?
Hurricane Melissa made landfall as one of the most destructive weather system in the Atlantic basin's recorded history, in no small part due to the warming of the ocean waters. Melissa brought sustained winds of more than 185 mph, torrential rainfall (up to 30 inches in some locations) and a storm surge as high as 10-12 feet along parts the southern coast.
The storm caused untold destruction to communities across the country. In areas such as the parish of St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland, where many coffee famers live in the off season, buildings lost roofs or collapsed entirely.
Deep flooding and landslides were triggered by the storm's slow movement and heavy rain. This Intense destruction has never been seen before in this Caribbean paradise.
Power and communications were severely disrupted: at least 77% of the island lost electricity at one point, and virtually all rural communities were cut off or isolated in the immediate aftermath.
Economically, Jamaica faces a severe setback: early modeling indicates potential loses of up to $14 billion economically. Please help with what ever resources are available. You will find a donation link here:
30
Jamaican communities likely remained cut off by damages to roads and bridges.
$48bn - $52bn
in estimated damages across the Caribbean according to experts at US forecaster AccuWeather
77%
Of the island lost power with some communities still experiencing outage
I want to support:
Help people affected by Hurricane Melissa by making a gift today that will go toward rebuilding homes, purchasing food replanting coffee shrubs and seeking medical attention.
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Your gift big or small enables farmers and their families to recover from catastrophe and start to rebuild their lives.
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