Have you ever been in a hurricane before? Hurricanes can be very dangerous and powerful. Hurricanes are divided into different categories 1-5. One being caution and five being catastrophic. Recently, Jamaica took the hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa. Which left Jamaica in a bad state of destroyed houses, things in the wrong places, and hurt people.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025. When Hurricane Melissa hit landfall in Jamaica, Melissa was a category 5 hurricane with winds up to 185 mph! Hurricane Melissa did not only affect Jamaica but affected millions more across the Caribbean, including Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. Hurricane Melissa was also often associated with some of the strongest storms. Hurricane Melissa was so strong that it wiped out the courthouse, library, downtown shipping district, and almost everybody’s roof. In fact Hurricane Melissa was the most powerful hurricane to ever hit Jamaica.
A lot of horrible things have happened because of the hurricane, the loss of family members, destroyed buildings, and loss of resources. At least 83 people died, 141+ were injured, and 14+ people are missing. To repair the damage it would cost close to 6 billion dollars. On the other hand, on October 26th, the prime minister of Jamaica signed off on the Disaster Risk Management (Hurricane Melissa) Evacuation Order, 2025. The places that ordered these evacuation plans are Kingston, Clarendon, St. Catherine, and St. Andrew. All of those cities were in Jamaica.
Island governments or regions usually begin rebuilding the basics such as: homes, schools, and critical infrastructure. Hurricane Melissa showed that buildings should be upgraded to withstand category 5 winds. The citizens found out that their floors should be elevated, there should be flood-resistant structures, and roof-to-wall tie-downs. There should also be protection from landslide-prone slopes. Coastal setbacks are to be strictly enforced, mangrove and wetlands need to be scaled up. Drainage systems should also be upgraded and maintained to accommodate heavier rainfall and rapid intensification. Island states must refine evacuation plans, have supplies positioned accordingly before any event, get real-time hazard sensors, and treat possible hurricane strikes as an immediate alert, not just a possible warning.
The Jamaican government announced a national campaign to clean up the horrible mess that hurricane Melissa caused across central and western Jamaica. Desmond McKenzie said, “A part of any recovery must be keeping our cities, towns and communities clean.” When hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, the people there were still recovering from Hurricane Beryl, so in just 16 months two category five hurricanes have impacted Jamaica. Hurricane Beryl was also a category 5 hurricane.
In conclusion, Hurricane Melissa is very powerful and strong. Hurricane Melissa has caused loss in families, destruction, and loss of resources. Hurricane Melissa also helped citizens by learning to build better buildings that will withstand strong storms and what to do if another strong strom happens. Recovery and progress has happened in these communities. These progresses are cleaning of roads so that new resources can come in and others flying in with willing hands to help.
