Houston’s Caribbean group is uniting to assist their homelands get better after Hurricane Melissa, one of the highly effective storms in recorded historical past, left a path of destruction throughout Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba.
Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Oct 28 as a lethal Class 5 hurricane with winds reaching 185 mph. Later that week, the storm weakened because it moved towards Bermuda, however not earlier than flooding neighborhoods, tearing down energy strains, and forcing tens of 1000’s of individuals into shelters.
No less than 50 folks have been discovered useless throughout the area, together with 30 in Haiti and eight in Jamaica, authorities mentioned. For a lot of in Houston’s Caribbean diaspora, the storm’s devastation impacted fast households and kin.
“I’ve cousins and buddies I nonetheless can’t attain in St. Elizabeth,” mentioned Dr. Nicole Bent Jones, president of the Jamaica Basis of Houston (JFH). “The strains are down. It’s tense. However for the folks right here in Houston, we’re all pulling collectively making an attempt to do what we will.”
The 44-year-old nonprofit has launched a web-based donation drive via its web site, jamaicafoundationofhouston.org, to lift $150,000 for restoration efforts. JFH can also be organizing a citywide provide drive, with drop-off areas at native Caribbean eating places and group facilities this month.
Volunteers are making ready care packages and coordinating with delivery companions to ship containers of important gadgets, together with meals, water, and bedding, to the island. The group is working intently with Jamaica’s honorary consul in Houston, the nation’s embassy, and Meals for the Poor, a trusted humanitarian company that has operated in Jamaica for many years.
Individuals are devastated. Some households don’t have any shelter. They’re operating out of meals and water, and people with well being circumstances are in even better hazard.
Dr. Nicole Bent Jones
“Individuals are devastated,” Jones mentioned. “Some households don’t have any shelter. They’re operating out of meals and water, and people with well being circumstances are in even better hazard. However we’re hopeful that via our partnerships, the help will attain those that want it most.”
Jones mentioned collaboration amongst Houston’s Caribbean teams has been robust. JFH is partnering with organizations such because the Affiliation of Jamaican Nurses of Higher Houston, the Houston–Missouri Metropolis Domino Membership, and several other Caribbean-owned eating places, which function assortment factors.
“When there’s a disaster, we come collectively,” she mentioned. “Our missions may differ, however our hearts are the identical.”
Whereas the Jamaican group works to ship provides, the Haitian group faces extra difficult boundaries.
Dorothy Dupuy, group affairs advisor for Houston Haitians United (HHU), mentioned her group continues to be assessing the storm’s full impression, with southern Haiti hit hardest. Cities reminiscent of Jacmel, Jérémie, and Petit-Goâve have suffered extreme flooding and displacement, and at the least 43 individuals are confirmed useless. An estimated 15,000 individuals are displaced, with almost 1,700 presently in shelters.
“We’ve got been rigorously reviewing and vetting sources. In current many years, charitable donations/efforts to Haiti have been marred by alleged misuse and misdirection of donated funds,” Dupuy mentioned. “We wish to guarantee prudent referrals to sources and correct stewardship of any funds acquired. Constructing and retaining belief with our group is of utmost significance.”
HHU has been in touch with the Texas Caribbean Chamber of Commerce and the JFH to coordinate reduction. Haiti’s logistical challenges run deep. Ongoing gang violence has made street journey harmful, and a U.S. ban on air journey to Port-au-Prince via March 2026 has additional difficult support supply.
“Most Haitian ports are managed by gangs and/or corrupt entities,” Dupuy advised the Defender. “This implies there’s no assure gadgets shipped to Haiti will attain supposed recipients.”
Regardless of these boundaries, Dupuy mentioned native teams stay decided to assist. HHU is encouraging Houston residents to donate to vetted organizations such because the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO), Islamic Medical Affiliation of North America (IMANA), and Ayiti Group Belief, all of which have ongoing reduction operations.
She mentioned the disaster has reignited discussions round local weather resilience throughout the Haitian group.
“Many in our group haven’t been given the chance to discover ways to swim regardless of being natives of a Caribbean island, Dupuy mentioned. “The Haitian authorities and personal sector might additionally amplify this effort by offering free/low value courses or incorporating swim classes within the nationwide public college curriculum.”
Bent Jones has additionally mentioned short- and long-term efforts for restoration with group members.
“We’re studying from this,” she mentioned. “We’ve laid out fast, mid-scale, and large-scale restoration plans, from $150,000 to $2 million, to rebuild infrastructure and assist Jamaica put together for future storms. That is about full transparency and long-term resilience.”
