TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – What started as a tropical birthday getaway quickly turned into a nightmare for a Tallahassee woman visiting her hometown of Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Paulette McFarlane said she and her family were in Jamaica to celebrate her husband and son’s birthdays when Hurricane Melissa began bearing down on the island.
“We were forewarned of Melissa. However, they didn’t consider it that detrimental or disruptive to their birthday arrangements at the time.”
She said they stocked up on supplies and felt ready to ride out the storm, but Melissa was stronger than they expected.
“We went out and got water, and we got additional household and food items. We do have a generator, and we said, ‘Well, it will be fine,’ McFarlane said. ”Upon the hurricane, we lost everything: power, water, and no Wi-Fi.”
Despite their preparations, Melissa proved unstoppable. Every gust of wind and drop of rain pushed their home closer to disaster.
More Tallahassee news:
“You started hearing that whistling in the wind, and it becomes really scary,” McFarlane said. “I’m glad that I didn’t have any of the grandkids there and we were all adults, but water was coming through even though the windows were locked, water was coming through the windows and the doors.”
When the storm finally subsided, the damage was shocking. Homes were destroyed, streets flooded, and communities left in disarray.
“It was mind-boggling, we just couldn’t even digest what we were seeing. The people on the island desperately need help. They need water, they need food, they need clothing, some people have lost their beds, they have nowhere to sleep.”
While their home was spared and sustained only minimal damage compared to those who lost everything, she decided to come forward and share her story to spotlight the current devastation in Jamaica.
“I’m not a very vocal person, but when I see this, I have to advocate for those who need help. I have to be their voice because they aren’t here, and I was able to get out,” McFarlane said.
She urges anyone who can donate to click here.
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.