“Anyone who’s ever had a great time in Jamaica, give ten dollars, give one dollar. Anything you can. But do it right now.” —Sean Paul
Hurricane Melissa had a catastrophic and devastating impact on Jamaica, making landfall as an extremely powerful Category 5 storm, the strongest in the island’s recorded history. The entire island was declared a disaster area by the Prime Minister and the toll in lives and property damage is not yet known. Severe flooding, landslides, island-wide power and telephone outages, and blocked roads are hampering relief efforts. Many hospitals, clinics, and schools sustained damage, and the agricultural heartland was severely affected, raising concerns about long-term food security. In western and southern parishes like St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Manchester, nearly every structure was damaged or destroyed, particularly in the town of Black River. Popular tourist destinations like Montego Bay and Trelawny were hit hard. “People are homeless. They have no running water, can’t bathe,” says Jamaican superstar Sean Paul during an interview on CNN. “How people are surviving is almsost impossible.” Links to Support Jamaica After The Jump… (more…)
