St. Catherine, Jamaica, October 29, 2025 – The Jamaica Red Cross (JRC) expresses deep concern for the thousands of Jamaicans affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall near New Hope, St. Elizabeth, on October 28, 2025, as a Category 5 storm. The hurricane has caused widespread flooding, severe damage to homes and infrastructure, and major disruptions to power and communication networks across the island.
Throughout the storm, the JRC has been active in national response coordination through the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and continues to support shelter management and humanitarian relief. As at Thursday evening (October 30), the JRC was involved in managing 31 of the 436 shelters activated across the island, providing support to over 6,000 shelterees.
Early Action and Ongoing Response
Prior to landfall, the JRC activated its volunteer network islandwide, and accessed 80,000 CHF (16 million Jamaican dollars) though the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Response Emergency Fund, which allowed it to preposition relief supplies and bolster response capacity. Volunteers and staff were deployed to branch emergency centers and shelters.
“Now that Hurricane Melissa has passed, the JRC is has been deploying assessment and relief teams to the western parishes—including St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St. James—which were among the hardest hit,” explained Leiska Powell, JRC emergency services manager. “These efforts will begin once the all-clear has been issued by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).”
Restoring Connection in Cut-Off Communities
The JRC is especially concerned about the damage to telecommunication networks, which has rendered several communities unreachable. In collaboration with partners and private sector entities, the Red Cross will be leveraging emergency connectivity solutions to provide temporary internet access in isolated areas to ensure that families can reconnect and receive critical information.
Restoring Family Links (RFL) Services
To assist those who have lost contact with relatives in Jamaica, the Jamaica Red Cross has activated its Restoring Family Links (RFL) service. Persons overseas who are unable to reach their loved ones may contact the JRC via email at jrcs@jamaicaredcross.org, or at +1 (876) 361-2407 or +1 (876) 665-6891, or reach out through their website at www.jamaicaredcross.org.
Commitment to Recovery
“The road to recovery will be long, but the Jamaica Red Cross remains steadfast in our commitment to help communities recover with dignity and resilience,” said Powell. “We are working closely with national authorities, international partners, and our network of volunteers to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most – we are on the side of humanity”
The Jamaica Red Cross will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on relief efforts as conditions permit.