Archive · 15 Nov 2025
Hurricane Melissa Leaves Thousands Homeless in Jamaica
A big storm named Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica and made many homes disappear.
People like Sashoya Wynter and her family lost their houses and even the school where they tried to hide.
Now, they have to live in a broken-down place with no doors and are scared at night.
Many other families are in the same situation, living in places that used to be homes or even just sleeping outside.
The country is trying to get help like food and water, but putting everyone back into new homes is a very, very big problem.
Even with help from other countries, it will take a long time to fix everything.
Hurricane Melissa has left approximately 90,000 families homeless in Jamaica.
Many structures, including homes and a school where people sought refuge, sustained major damage or were destroyed.
Survivors are facing immediate needs for food, water, and safe shelter, with some resorting to sleeping in exposed ruins.
Storm damages are estimated to cost up to $7 billion, with about one-third of the country significantly impacted.
The Jamaican government, acknowledging the immense scale of the crisis, is seeking international aid to address the widespread homelessness and infrastructure damage.
- Who
- Sashoya Wynter and her family, along with approximately 90,000 other families in Jamaica.
- What
- Tens of thousands of families are homeless and struggling for basic necessities after Hurricane Melissa caused widespread destruction, damaging homes and essential infrastructure.
- When
- More than two weeks after Hurricane Melissa struck.
- Where
- Western Jamaica, particularly in areas near the southwest shore.
- Why
- Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, destroyed homes and shelters, leaving a significant portion of the population without housing and access to food and water.
Government Preparedness
Expert Opinion
Government Capacity to Respond
Government Preparedness
Government officials acknowledge that tackling the monumental crisis will require international aid.
Expert Opinion
Experts state that no government would be ready to adequately respond to such a monumental crisis.
- Number of affected families
- 90,000
- Number of structures with major damage
- 146,000
- Estimated storm damage cost
- $7 billion
- Percentage of country significantly impacted
- One third
- People affected by the storm
- Approximately 1 million
- Fatalities
- At least 45