HURRICANE Devastation

My heart is broken as I watch the devastation Hurricane Melissa has brought to Jamaica, the place where I was born and raised. Even after moving to the United States to serve in the military and to seek a better life, I have never forgotten where I came from. I know the struggles that so many in Jamaica face each day, the poverty, the hardship, and the resilience of people who have always made do with so little, and now after this storm, many who had close to nothing are left with nothing at all. As a proud United States Army Veteran, I feel a deep responsibility to do whatever I can to help. The moment I heard the airport had reopened to flights, I knew I had to go. I needed to see it for myself, to witness the true extent of the destruction. It consumed me, the devastation, the loss, and the pain in every corner. Seeing it in person for the first time I was struck by my own privilege, realizing that I could fly into this disaster and then fly back home, while my community, my country, and my people must live with this every day and struggle to survive with barely anything to hold onto. That reality hit me harder than I could have imagined and it lit a fire in me that I cannot put out. I will stop at nothing to help my people restore what was lost and to give them hope and support as they begin again. Please see below to view what is urgently needed and where it can be dropped off.

I will never forget the frantic text messages from my family during Hurricane Melissa, messages that felt like final goodbyes. When the eye of the storm cut off power, it became terrifyingly clear just how much we were about to face. The hours without communication were unbearable, and all I could do was scroll through social media, seeing photos and videos of the destruction and fear that my family and so many others were enduring. Every ping of my phone brought hope and anxiety, praying it was a family member. For over 48 hours, I had no word about my aunt, hearing that her neighbors were looking for her and preparing for the worst. You cannot imagine the sighs of relief we let out when we heard she was accounted for, nor the cries we let out when we finally heard her voice for the first time. Seeing our family home caved in, the roof blown away, and hearing the cries of my mom and Uncle Pete witnessing the devastation made the reality hit even harder. 

My family is alive, but homeless, without food and water, and the family shop destroyed. All I know to do is to roll up my sleeves, ask for help, and organize resources, because the only way forward is to go to Jamaica and provide supplies and support to the people who need it most.