In the three weeks since Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, with destructive winds of up to 185 miles per hour, authorities have been busy addressing immediate crises and assessing the damage. The strongest hurricane ever recorded to hit the Caribbean nation, Melissa collided with houses and property and downed power lines across the island, initially leaving around 70 percent of the country without electricity. Many roads still remain blocked thanks to intense flooding, landslides, and debris, making it more difficult for aid to reach those who live in the mountainous, more rural interior of the island. This week, authorities confirmed 45 lives were lost due to the hurricane; another 15 people are still reported as missing.
Melissa also hit Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, where homes and farms were damaged, many thousands of people have been displaced, and dozens of people were killed. The losses across Jamaica have been even more sweeping. Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said economic losses suffered by the island are equal to roughly 30 percent of last year’s gross domestic product.... Read more
