A day after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, advocates and community leaders in the Tampa Bay area began organizing relief efforts to help families on the island.
Evie Larmond-Louden, a member of the nonprofit Caribbean Community Association, said her organization already has five large bins filled with nonperishable goods and hygiene products collected this year and ready to ship. Each bin contains bags with deodorant, shampoo, soap, washcloths and other products, labeled for specific groups such as pregnant mothers and babies.
“It is a very difficult situation, but we’re here to help,” she said.
Larmond-Louden’s group is part of a network called Tampa Cares Coalition, which includes local groups like the Caribbean American National Development Organization and entrepreneurs such as Andrew Ashmeade, owner of Tampa’s Jerk Hut restaurant chain.
On Wednesday afternoon, they met to plan how to collect donations quickly.
“We have strong representation from each organization,” Larmond-Louden said. “Every year, we come together with ideas and plans because the Caribbean region is extremely vulnerable, and we know hurricanes will come regardless.”
Hurricane Melissa made landfall Tuesday as a Category 5 with top winds of 185 mph. It was the strongest storm to hit the island since record-keeping began 174 years ago.
Ashmeade, the owner of Jerk Hut in Tampa, said he has been in touch with his sister in Jamaica. She told him there’s a lot of damage and many people who have suffered heavy losses.
Ashmeade said his restaurant is ready to help people and coordinate any efforts that will be needed in the coming hours. The Tampa Cares Coaltion has secured two industrial warehouses to store all donations, he said.
“Volunteers have been coming forward to help,” Ashmeade said. “I’m pretty sure that in the next 48 hours we’re going to see big results from these efforts.”
Francis Joseph, chairman of the Caribbean American National Development Organization, said while the coalition is working to collect donations, they are looking for more news and updates from Jamaica’s government to understand the full impact and the specific needs.
Joseph said they’re coordinating with government agencies and local groups in Jamaica to make sure that whatever they collect has the proper permits to enter the island and reaches the right towns and villages.
“The hurricane literally just left the island yesterday,” Joseph said. “Right now, the island is shut down and the airports are a mess. We’re waiting to hear which sites are open and how to access them.”
Larmond-Louden said she has heard that four hospitals in Jamaica were washed out. Heavy flooding hit southwestern Jamaica, causing landslides, downed trees and power outages, according to the Associated Press.
“We knew that this hurricane was coming, so people were encouraged to evacuate, especially those living along the coast,” said Larmond-Louden. “Roads are impassable and many bridges have collapsed. People are stranded.”