How Texas Can Help Jamaica Recover After Hurricane Melissa’s Destruction

All eyes in Texas are on Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa delivers catastrophic winds and flooding. We’ve seen what water can do firsthand and the lives it can take. But this is unprecedented.

If you're like me, you've been glued to all of the reports about Hurricane Melissa, and much like you, I can't stop thinking about the people of Jamaica and how we can help.

A Storm Like No Other

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 monster, bearing down on Jamaica with wind speeds near 165 mph and rainfall totals of 30 to 40 inches expected across the island. Newsweek reports that this could be one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbean.

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Homes are already being evacuated, floodwaters are rising, and power outages are spreading. The Jamaica Red Cross is mobilizing teams for search-and-rescue, first aid, and emergency shelter operations as the country braces for impact.

How to Help Right Now

Here are trusted, verified organizations already responding to Hurricane Melissa. Each has a specific mission, from emergency rescue to long-term recovery, and all need immediate support:

• Jamaica Red Cross – Providing emergency shelters, first aid, and disaster relief kits. Donations fund clean water, food, and shelter supplies.
• Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) – Pre-positioning supplies in Kingston for fast disaster response and community rebuilding.
• Catholic Relief Services – Delivering medical kits, food, and clean water to affected areas across Jamaica and the Caribbean.
• Send Relief – Coordinating faith-based disaster response and long-term recovery assistance.
• Charity Navigator – Hurricane Melissa Relief – A comprehensive list of vetted, tax-deductible organizations supporting the response.

Monetary donations are often the most effective form of help. If you’re collecting supplies, partner with groups already managing shipping and customs to ensure everything reaches Jamaica safely.

Why Texans Should Help

When disaster strikes, it reminds us how fragile life can be and how powerful compassion truly is. In Texas, we’ve experienced the wrath of Hurricane Harvey and dealt with flood situations quite a bit. But, families in Jamaica are facing unimaginable loss as Hurricane Melissa tears through homes, communities, and livelihoods.

Standing Shoulder to Shoulder

From Abilene to Austin, from Houston to Dallas, Texans have always risen when others fall. The people of Jamaica are facing devastation on a scale that’s hard to imagine, but they’re not facing it alone.

When the floodwaters rise, Texans rise, too. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with you, Jamaica.