Drone footage and early after-action reporting depicted extensive damage across Jamaica’s coast and inland communities, with roofs ripped off, floods washing through streets, and power and communications disrupted. As emergency teams began to assess the scope of the destruction, Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, visited hard-hit areas to survey the damage and coordinate relief efforts. Officials warned that the toll from Melissa could rise as communities in remote areas are reached and rescue work continues.
The Caribbean’s latest chapter with Melissa extended beyond Jamaica as the storm carved a path toward Cuba and the Bahamas. In Cuba and the Bahamas, authorities reported widespread infrastructure damage and flooding, while the potential for further loss of life loomed as search and relief operations expanded. As the storm tracked toward Bermuda, emergency managers in affected nations began lines of communication to mobilize shelter, food, and medical aid for residents in its projected path.
Coverage from the United States highlighted the severity of the event. CNN and AP News reported that Melissa delivered torrential downpours and forceful winds across its path, with the AP assessment explicitly noting Jamaica’s landfall as a Category 5 event. CNN’s coverage also noted drone footage illustrating the scale of devastation and cited the growing casualty figure, which had risen in the hours after landfall. The reports underscored the urgency of clearing roads and restoring critical infrastructure so relief supplies could reach communities cut off by the storm.
On the ground, residents described the shock of the strike and the challenge of restoring daily life in the aftermath. FOX Weather’s early tracking and field reporting, including segments featuring meteorologist Robert Lee, captured the intensity of Melissa as it approached Jamaica and tracked its movement through the Caribbean. In Jamaica, video and social-media clips shared by FOX Weather viewers showed both the magnitude of the damage and the resilience of communities as they began cleanup and recovery efforts. Those scenes underscored how the storm’s impact extended beyond immediate property damage to long-term disruption of housing, schooling, and livelihoods.
As the hurricane’s tailwinds and rainfall pressed inland, forecasters warned of continued danger in the Caribbean and urged preparations for ongoing after-effects, including floods, isolated communities, and power outages. The broader context is stark: Melissa stands among the Atlantic’s most powerful storms in recent memory, forcing governments to marshal emergency resources, accelerate evacuations where possible, and coordinate international aid to support reconstruction. With Bermuda and other Atlantic shores watching closely, officials stressed that recovery in Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas would require sustained relief, rebuilding, and resilience efforts in the weeks and months ahead.
