Drone captures images of Hurricane Melissa damage in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as it crossed the Caribbean, destroying homes, flooding roads and cutting off communications.
The death toll from Hurricane Melissa as it batters the Caribbean has risen to 65 and could rise to at least 73 after Jamaican authorities announced additional death tolls on November 3.
Thirty-two people have been confirmed dead in Jamaica, but Jamaican authorities are working to confirm eight more deaths, Information Minister Dana Morris-Dixon said in an afternoon update on November 3. The hurricane claimed 31 lives in Haiti and two in the Dominican Republic.
Melissa made landfall on Jamaica’s southwest coast a week ago, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts in excess of 320 mph in its center. Strong winds, extreme rain, and overwhelming storm surge caused widespread damage across the island, particularly in western Jamaica.
Tuesday, November 4, is a week away, but “it feels like 10 years,” said Darryl Buzz, Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport.
Labor and Social Security Minister Pernell Charles Jr. said 25 communities on the island remain isolated. Charles said the hurricane tested the island “in ways we could never have imagined.”
Efforts to restore damaged electricity and water supply
Morris Dixon and others described ongoing efforts to restore electricity and water services and provide food, water and relief supplies.
Power has been restored to about half of the island’s customers, mostly in urban areas, said Hugh Grant, president and CEO of Jamaica Power Services. “Our iron lattice structure was twisted and falling to the ground,” Grant said.
Grant noted that work is underway around the clock. For example, he explained that an electrical worker whose wife suffered a seizure when the doors and windows of their home were blown out during the hurricane has not yet been able to have her stay with him as he works to help restore power.
Large-scale damage was also reported to the island’s water system. Matthew Samuda from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation said an intake pipe for the Great River system was washed away on the north bank. Of the 763 water systems on the island, 641 were disrupted.
Officials also implored people without business in western Jamaica to refrain from leaving their homes. Tourists and people taking selfies caused massive traffic jams, blocking the passage of trucks carrying relief supplies, officials said.
Relief supplies and personnel arrive
Jamaican officials said relief workers and supplies were arriving from around the world, including the United States, Canada, Venezuela, France and the Netherlands.
“The world is helping us… because they love Jamaica,” Vaz said.
On November 3, the U.S. State Department posted on X that it would provide an initial $11 million in foreign aid to support the Jamaican community, including emergency food supplies for up to 40,000 people and the installation of six water treatment systems.
Morris Dixon said donations to Jamaica’s official donation site are approaching $1 million.
Dinah Boyles Pulver, national correspondent for USA TODAY, has been writing about hurricanes, tornadoes and severe weather for more than 30 years. Contact dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or dinahvp.77 on X or Signal.
