TAMPA, Fla. — The island nation of Jamaica is reeling from a direct hit from the strongest hurricane to ever hit the country. Hurricane Melissa struck the southwest part of Jamaica, leaving behind destruction and devastation.
Dr. Phillip Lee Fatt, a Jamaican-Chinese resident of Tampa, grew up on the island before moving to the United States when he was 20 years old.
His only connection to remaining family in Jamaica has been through a Whatsapp group chat. He is thankful to have heard back from them, while others had their lives turned upside down in a matter of moments.
“Cat 5, 185 miles per hour winds when it landed, that was devastating,” Lee Fatt said.
Early images sent back from Jamaica show that devastation. Melissa’s strong winds ripped roofs completely away, and storm surge left streets submerged.
It will be some time before Jamaica experiences “normal” again.
Linda Perez is the leader of Boricuas de Coracon Inc., a Puerto Rican organization that has tepped up in the Caribbean’s time of need.
“These are victims of natural disaster. They didn’t even ask for this,” Perez said.
Right now, Boricuas de Coracon Inc. is collecting solar powered equipment, hygiene, emergency supplies and anything else that might be useful to send to the island.
“One of the things that we’re always telling them is, ‘Think if that happened to you. How would you react?’ These people right now need our assistance,” Perez said. “Right now, it’s Jamaica. Next month it could be any other country. We need to make sure to open our heart and help other countries.”
“One time during the tracking of Melissa, it was almost stationary. And then it started to move like five miles an hour. I mean, I can walk faster than that,” said Lee Fatt.
Lee Fatt can laugh now, but only because his family was spared. Most of them live in Kingston, on the east side of Jamaica, escaping the brunt of the storm.
His family is safe, but not everyone was so lucky.
“I’ve seen some images, especially from the Bay, Black River area, where the water is actually carving a new riverway,” Lee Fatt said.
Boricuas de Coracon Inc. is accepting donations daily from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at The Jerk Hut at 1241 E Fowler Ave. in Tampa.
More details on how you can support can be found on their website.