Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba Begin Recovery After Hurricane Melissa/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Hurricane Melissa tore through Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba, leaving a trail of destruction, flooding, and fatalities. Jamaica’s southwest coast was decimated, Haiti reported at least 25 deaths, and eastern Cuba faced massive infrastructure damage. Recovery efforts are underway as storm conditions shift toward Bermuda.
Hurricane Melissa Caribbean Impact Quick Looks
- Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm.
- Jamaica’s Black River area saw up to 90% roof destruction.
- At least 25 killed in Haiti, with many still missing.
- Over 735,000 evacuated in Cuba, with no reported fatalities.
- Historic Cuban basilica in El Cobre sustained heavy damage.
- Relief efforts underway as thousands remain in shelters.
- Over 77% of Jamaica remains without power.
- Storm downgraded to Category 2, heading toward Bermuda.
- Cuba’s eastern provinces report agricultural and communication losses.
- Melissa ties strength records for Atlantic landfall hurricanes.
Deep Look
Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba Grapple With Aftermath of Devastating Hurricane Melissa
SANTIAGO DE CUBA — The sound of chainsaws, backhoes, and machetes filled the air across Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba as residents began the painful process of recovering from Hurricane Melissa—a storm that battered the Caribbean with devastating winds, deadly flooding, and widespread destruction.
Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, made landfall Tuesday in southeastern Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph. The aftermath is catastrophic, with entire towns flattened, lives lost, and vital infrastructure shattered.
Jamaica: Communities in Ruins, Thousands Displaced
In Jamaica, the hardest-hit region was the southwest coastal area, particularly Black River in St. Elizabeth Parish. Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the town as “ground zero,” with up to 90% of roofs torn away and widespread property loss.
“The people are still coming to grips with the destruction,” Holness said.
Sylvester Guthrie, a sanitation worker in Lacovia, echoed the despair felt across the island: “I don’t have a house now… I’m going to need help.”
Emergency aid began arriving late Wednesday, as international flights resumed at Jamaica’s main airport. Relief crews began delivering water, food, and essential supplies. However, dozens of communities remain isolated due to collapsed bridges and washed-out roads. Helicopters have been dispatched to reach these cut-off zones.
Transportation Minister Daryl Vaz called the scale of damage “enormous.” So far, authorities have confirmed at least four deaths, and more than 25,000 people remain in shelters. Approximately 77% of Jamaica is still without electricity.
Haiti: Floods Claim Lives as Search Continues
For Steven Guadard, the losses were personal and profound. “I had four children at home… Melissa killed my entire family,” he said.
Haiti’s transitional presidential council leader, Laurent Saint-Cyr, warned that the death toll could rise. “It is a sad moment for the country,” he said. The Civil Protection Agency confirmed that more than 11,600 people are currently housed in shelters as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
Cuba: Widespread Damage But No Loss of Life
Cuba’s eastern provinces, including Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Granma, bore the brunt of Melissa’s second landfall as a Category 3 hurricane early Wednesday. Authorities credited the mass evacuation of over 735,000 people for the absence of reported deaths.
In El Cobre, home to the revered Basilica of Our Lady of Charity, the storm inflicted major structural damage. “The carpentry, stained glass, and even the masonry suffered,” said Father Rogelio Dean Puerta. “The town was also badly affected. Many people lost their homes and belongings.”
Local retiree Odalys Ojeda described the horror: “So much wind. Zinc roofs were torn off. Some houses completely collapsed. It was a disaster.”
Across eastern Cuba, roads remain blocked, power lines are down, and communication is limited due to damaged infrastructure. In rural areas, residents returned from shelters only to find standing water and damaged possessions.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel led a televised Civil Defense briefing where officials reported losses to banana, cassava, and coffee crops, in addition to infrastructure damage. Despite the destruction, some rainwater has helped alleviate drought conditions in the region.
Melissa’s Path and Current Status
After devastating the northern Caribbean, Hurricane Melissa weakened to a Category 2 storm as of Thursday morning. With sustained winds of 105 mph, it is now moving north-northeast toward Bermuda at 24 mph.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for Bermuda, with conditions expected to worsen throughout Thursday. Melissa is forecast to strengthen slightly before weakening again on Friday.
At its peak, Melissa matched the strongest Atlantic landfall hurricanes on record, based on wind speed and barometric pressure.
Long Road Ahead for Recovery
As Caribbean nations begin the long and costly path toward recovery, government officials are calling for international assistance. The scale of destruction in places like Jamaica’s Black River, Haiti’s southern coast, and Cuba’s El Cobre will require coordinated efforts from global aid organizations, local governments, and regional partners.
Thousands remain in shelters with uncertain futures, while power, clean water, and medical resources are in short supply. Damaged schools, collapsed bridges, and washed-out roads further complicate recovery logistics.
Melissa’s rapid intensification and widespread devastation once again raise urgent questions about climate resilience in the Caribbean, where communities—many already burdened by poverty and political instability—face the increasing wrath of extreme weather.
For now, the region begins picking up the pieces.
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