Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone to strike Jamaica in nearly two centuries, has left a catastrophic trail of destruction across the Caribbean. Slamming into Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph (298 km/h), and later impacting Cuba and Haiti, Melissa’s effects were felt far beyond its direct path. Climate scientists have attributed the storm’s rapid intensification to human-induced global heating.

Jamaica bore the brunt of Melissa’s initial fury. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the country a disaster area, granting authorities emergency powers to enforce evacuations and prevent price gouging. In the storm’s aftermath, approximately 77% of the island was left without electricity, with reports indicating that over 530,000 of Jamaica’s 2.8 million residents remained without power. Massive damage was reported across the island, particularly in western regions where the storm lingered, ripping roofs from homes, flipping cars, uprooting trees, and covering roads in gravel and debris.

Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government, described the event as “one of the worst experiences that [Jamaica] has ever encountered,” noting that the nation’s infrastructure was “severely compromised.” Residents shared similar sentiments. Jack Gardner, 43, a Kingston native who had weathered several storms before, described Melissa as “very deadly,” while Lisa Henry, 35, recounted watching Manchester High School’s roof being torn away. The UN’s Resident Coordinator, Dennis Zulu, and the British Red Cross’s Global Response Manager, Alexander Pendry, both confirmed “tremendous, unprecedented devastation.” The Jamaica Red Cross prioritized immediate relief efforts, while Transport Minister Daryl Vaz expedited airport reopening operations to accommodate incoming aid flights, stressing that “every hour is an hour lost.”
Three deaths were confirmed in Jamaica.

After devastating Jamaica, Melissa weakened to a Category 3 and later a Category 2 storm but still posed a severe threat as it moved toward Cuba. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reported “extensive damage” following landfall on the island’s southern coast, describing it as a “very difficult early morning.” More than 735,000 people were evacuated, particularly from Santiago de Cuba, where a major hotel suffered shattered windows and roof damage. The storm was expected to pass across Cuba and move into the Bahamas.

Other Caribbean nations were also severely affected. In Haiti, 25 people were killed amid flash floods. The La Digue River in Petit-Goâve overflowed, sweeping away children and adults alike, collapsing dozens of homes, and prompting Mayor Jean Bertrand Subrème to plead for government intervention. The Dominican Republic reported one death and one person missing as a result of the storm.

In the wake of widespread devastation, Long Island business and civic leaders in the United States launched relief initiatives. Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Dist. 3, Elmont) urged residents to donate, expressing concern that the ongoing U.S. government shutdown could limit international assistance. Speaking at Nolan’s Cuisine in Elmont, Solages joined LeRoy Graham Jr., founder of the True Tribute Organization Foundation Inc., and Irwine G. Clare of Team Jamaica Bickle, to encourage contributions through the official Jamaican government website and local charities. They called for specific non-perishable goods? including flashlights, blankets, ropes, bungee cords, tarps, sanitary items, and medical supplies to be dropped off at Nolan’s, the Solages & Solages Law Offices, and Solages’ legislative office.
Graham, a Jamaica native, expressed hope for a response “led by compassion and empathy,” while Clare underscored the resilience of the Jamaican people despite the “devastating hurricane.”

The global impact of Hurricane Melissa extended even to the United Kingdom. The Met Office issued warnings of unsettled weather around Halloween weekend, noting that a low-pressure system containing “the remnants of what will then be ex-Hurricane Melissa” was expected to move across the far northwest of the UK early the following week. While it would no longer qualify as a named storm, the system was forecast to bring strong winds, heavy blustery showers, and mild air to western parts of the UK, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, demonstrating the far-reaching influence of this historic Atlantic cyclone.