Panama City/St. Catherine, 23 October 2025 – The Jamaica Red Cross (JRC), supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is activating anticipatory action measures ahead of Tropical Storm Melissa, which is forecast to approach Jamaica starting 24 October and could strengthen into a major hurricane over the weekend.
With 165,000 people potentially at risk across the parishes of Saint Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, Saint Catherine, Saint Andrew, Kingston, Saint Thomas, and Portland, the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) has allocated CHF 80,000 for imminent action. These funds will allow the JRC to mobilize resources, volunteers, and emergency supplies before the storm’s impact, pre-position life-saving supplies, prepare emergency shelters, and ensure communities are prepared and protected when Melissa makes landfall.
“Every hour counts when a storm is approaching,” said Leiska Powell, Emergency Services Manager at Jamaica Red Cross. “By acting on forecasts rather than waiting for damage reports, we can protect communities more effectively and reduce the humanitarian consequences of this storm. Our volunteers and disaster teams are working non-stop to protect those most at risk.”
Dual Approach: Anticipatory Action and Ready Response
The IFRC-DREF support enables the Jamaica Red Cross to act before Tropical Storm Melissa’s potential impact on the country, while also positioning the National Society to activate a full humanitarian response if needed.
In the days and hours leading up to Melissa’s anticipated arrival, the Red Cross will support the preparation of emergency shelters across the eight targeted parishes in schools, community centers, and places of worship. The organization will pre-position emergency supplies—including 250 shelter kits, 250 hygiene kits, 250 cleaning kits, tarps, drinking water, and other essential items—to local branches and designated shelters before the storm arrives.
Additionally, trained volunteers will be deployed on stand-by with necessary communication equipment, transportation, safety gear, and visibility items. All activities will be carried out in close coordination with national authorities and Parish Disaster Committees.
Should a humanitarian response become necessary following the storm’s impact, the Jamaica Red Cross is prepared to immediately replenish distributed supplies and complement emergency stock, conduct Damage and Needs Assessments to identify critical needs, operate emergency shelters for displaced populations, and establish feedback and complaint mechanisms to ensure accountability to affected communities.
Communities Still Recovering from Hurricane Beryl
The anticipated impacts of Tropical Storm Melissa are particularly concerning given that many southern coastal communities have not yet recovered from Hurricane Beryl, which struck Jamaica in July 2024, causing USD 204 million in economic damages, affecting 48,852 farmers, destroying 23,040 hectares of farmland, and impacting 11,200 fishermen.
“Households in southern parishes are still struggling financially from Hurricane Beryl and lack the resources to prepare adequately for another storm,” said Powell. “Our early action ensures that the most vulnerable families receive support before disaster strikes, rather than waiting until after they’ve lost everything.”
Many of these communities – particularly fishing villages such as Old Harbour Bay, Rocky Point, Bull Bay, and Caribbean Terrace – are located in low-lying areas extremely vulnerable to storm surge and coastal flooding. Additionally, Kingston’s informal settlements, comprising wooden and zinc-roofed structures, face significant risk from high winds.