Within the wake of Hurricane Melissa — one of the vital highly effective storms ever to hit Jamaica — Jamaicans.com hosted a reside dialogue titled “Constructing Again Jamaica Robust: Diaspora in Motion – USA & Canada,” as a part of our mission to make sure that essentially the most correct data is being shared to encourage confidence and encourage help.
Addressing the troubling unfold of misinformation and disinformation on the high of the programme, Jamaicans.com founder Xavier Murphy warned that it may possibly undermine the collective response and sluggish restoration efforts.
“We’ve seen a flood of false data — faux donation hyperlinks, AI-generated pictures, and rumours that create confusion,” Murphy stated. “When folks lose belief in what’s actual, they cease giving, and that delays the assistance our folks desperately want. We would like Jamaicans.com to be an area the place verified, factual updates information how we reply.”
This particular broadcast introduced collectively Consul Generals, Excessive Commissioners, and World Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) representatives to supply direct from supply data and updates on reduction efforts throughout the US and Canada.
On this characteristic, we concentrate on how the U.S. diaspora has mobilised — from Florida to the Midwest — to help restoration efforts at house.
A Historic Storm and a Diaspora on Alert
Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with unprecedented force, leaving an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 folks displaced or with out entry to water, electrical energy, or communication. Greater than 30 lives have been misplaced, and 6 western parishes — Trelawny, St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, and Manchester — bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. The dimensions of the catastrophe is immense, with early damage estimates at US $6 billion to $7 billion.
“We’ve extra folks in want than the help that we have now,” stated Marlon Hill, host of the reside broadcast. “The urgency is excessive… this isn’t actuality tv. Folks’s precise lives have been devastated.”
Southern United States: All Palms on Deck
From his base in South Florida, Consul Common Oliver Mair has been coordinating a community of greater than 50 drop-off factors throughout states together with Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and the Carolinas.
“The neighborhood has been very supportive,” he stated. “Inside three days, we had 50 drop-off factors. These relationships didn’t occur yesterday — they’re the results of years of belief.”
Provides collected are being shipped by way of Food For The Poor and the Global Empowerment Mission, two long-standing humanitarian companions.
Mair outlined three principal methods for Jamaicans within the U.S. to assist:
- Volunteer with Meals For The Poor or World Empowerment Mission.
- Donate reduction gadgets by way of the established drop-off factors.
Trying past rapid reduction, the diaspora is popping to cultural occasions to maintain consciousness and lift funds. Consul Common Oliver Mair introduced the Hurricane Melissa Profit Live performance, scheduled for Friday, 6 December 2025, that includes gospel artiste Bishop Fernandez. The occasion will serve each as a fundraiser and a second of collective gratitude.
“In every part, give thanks,” Mair stated. “It will likely be a time to thank God and to thank the neighborhood for rallying collectively. This isn’t a dash — it’s a marathon — and we should tempo ourselves however hold shifting briskly.”
Mair additionally urged persistence and solidarity.
“We’ve to place politics apart,” he stated. “Allow us to put love firstly and permit love to guide us as a neighborhood. This isn’t a 100-metre dash. It’s going to be a long-term run.”
Central Florida: Holding Momentum Alive
In Central Florida, Peter Gracey, the World Jamaica Diaspora Council consultant for the Southern U.S.A, has spearheaded a coordinated effort to teach donors and streamline shipments.
“We’ve created about 20 drop-off factors,” he defined. “Lots of people wish to ship barrels however don’t know what’s allowed or wanted. We’ve been doing ‘Delivery 101’ periods to verify area is used for necessities — not TVs.”
Gracey has additionally been working with attorneys and advocates to push for Non permanent Protected Standing (TPS) for Jamaicans within the U.S. who can not safely return house. However his better focus, he stated, is sustainability:
“What occurs after the headlines fade? We’ve to maintain this momentum for years, not weeks. Subsequent 12 months brings one other hurricane season — so we should hold going.”
Western and Midwestern States: A Private Mission
For Shauna Chin, the GJDC consultant for the West and Midwest, the catastrophe struck near house. Her household’s home in Montego Bay was amongst these broken, and she or he didn’t hear from her aged aunt for days.
“By the point I acquired off the cellphone, we simply bawled,” she stated. “It was overwhelming simply to listen to her voice.”
Chin described how Jamaicans throughout 23 states are mobilising by way of partnerships with organisations comparable to Midwest Mission, Direct Relief, Team Rubicon, and Convoy of Hope, with Uber offering free rides for volunteers transporting provides. Probably the most pressing wants, she stated, are water, meals, and energy banks — together with security for small companies in storm-ravaged areas.
Northeast: Church buildings, Hotlines and Amazon Lists
Throughout New York and the broader Northeast, neighborhood associations have reworked church buildings into assortment hubs, with the Jamaican Consulate partnering with clergy to boost funds and collect reduction provides. A number of drop-off areas have been arrange throughout town, together with at native NYPD precincts, which have joined the hassle.
The Consulate can also be serving to to reconnect households separated by the storm. Christopher Benjamin, Group Relations Officer on the Consulate Common of Jamaica in New York, stated requires help started even earlier than Hurricane Melissa made landfall. In consequence, the Consulate has re-established the emergency hotline first created throughout Hurricane Beryl to assist households find family members in affected areas.
“We arrange a hotline for individuals who couldn’t attain relations,” he stated. “In the event that they share a final identified handle, we ahead it to the Jamaica Constabulary Power so officers can test in particular person.”
The hotline (1-888-817-9050) operates day by day from 8 a.m. to eight p.m. EST, with updates on congenjamaica-ny.org.
Benjamin additionally highlighted an Amazon relief list primarily based on the official ODPEM needs list, permitting supporters to ship gadgets on to the Consulate for cargo to Jamaica.
Philadelphia
Church buildings and neighborhood organisations have taken the lead in rallying help for Jamaica’s restoration. Michelle Tulloch-Neil, World Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) consultant for the Northeast, says the outpouring of goodwill started even earlier than Hurricane Melissa made landfall.
“Folks have been anticipating, and earlier than you knew it, the calls began flooding in,” she defined. “The church buildings have been providing their areas earlier than I even requested — everybody simply needed to understand how they might assist.”
Tulloch-Neil, who is predicated in Philadelphia, has been coordinating carefully with the Consulate Common in New York and Honorary Consul Chris Chaplain to direct volunteers and handle donations. She maintains an lively database of drop-off areas throughout New Jersey, Boston, and Pennsylvania, updating it day by day as new companions come on board.
She additionally makes some extent of visiting church buildings and assortment centres to personally thank volunteers, noting that the response has been pushed by religion, unity, and compassion.
“It wasn’t a lot folks asking the right way to assist — it was them telling me what they have been already doing,” she stated. “One church known as to say, ‘We have already got three barrels prepared for you.’ It’s been unimaginable — everybody, from pastors to younger folks, is coming collectively for Jamaica.”
Guaranteeing Transparency and Accountability
Amid widespread misinformation on-line, the U.S. diaspora’s reduction community is set to make sure that each merchandise and greenback reaches the individuals who want it most.
Mair confirmed that each one official contributions are being tracked by way of the federal government’s supportjamaica.gov.jm portal and thru authorised charities. “Prime Minister Andrew Holness has emphasised accountability,” he stated. “We would like that proper throughout the board — however we additionally want velocity. Folks need assistance now.”
Christopher Benjamin, added that donated gadgets are being logged, documented, and shipped in collaboration with vetted freight corporations. “We’ve a full monitoring system for the reduction gadgets being despatched by way of our official attraction,” he stated. “That ensures transparency and permits us to report again to the neighborhood on our collective impression.”
A Name for Unity — and Continued Assist
Throughout each U.S. area, the message stays the identical: Jamaicans overseas should keep united, accountable, and lively.
“You’ve got the ability to make a distinction,” Mair reminded viewers. “You would possibly suppose it’s simply ten {dollars} — however you understand what ten {dollars} can do in Jamaica for someone who has nothing?”
Jamaicans.com will proceed internet hosting reside conversations with representatives, and neighborhood leaders throughout the globe to share verified updates on Hurricane Melissa reduction efforts.
Should you’re a part of an NGO, authorities company, enterprise, or neighborhood organisation coordinating reduction and want to get your message to the diaspora, e mail us at [email protected].
We’ll gladly share your verified updates throughout our platforms — as a result of rebuilding Jamaica is a world effort.
Comply with us on social media for persevering with protection, donation hyperlinks, and upcoming reside discussions.
Keep Linked and Assist the Effort
- World Jamaica Diaspora Council (USA): Updates by way of Jamaicans.com and GJDC regional pages.
- Hotline (Northeast): 1-888-817-9050 (8 a.m.–8 p.m. EST)
- Florida & Southern States Enquiries: (305) 374-8431
