KINGSTON, Jamaica — Nearly two months after Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with unprecedented force, the scale of the challenge facing the country is becoming clearer—and more sobering.
According to the United Nations, the Category 5 hurricane caused destruction on a scale rarely experienced in Jamaica’s modern history, with total damage and losses now estimated between US$8 billion and US$15 billion, equivalent to nearly 25 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The UN Resident Coordinator for Jamaica and several neighbouring territories, Dennis Zulu, said the hurricane affected more than 626,000 people and resulted in 45 deaths, highlighting the severe human cost alongside the economic impact.
Communities Still Displaced
While progress has been made in emergency response and early recovery, the UN reports that 90 emergency shelters remain operational, housing nearly 950 people who are still unable to return home.
Entire communities remain exposed, particularly in southwestern Jamaica, where an estimated 120,000 buildings lost their roofs, leaving families vulnerable to further rainfall, health risks, and insecurity.
Western parishes were also left without electricity for weeks, as Hurricane Melissa triggered prolonged and cascading failures across essential services.
Education, Livelihoods, and the Economy Under Strain
The education system has been hit especially hard. The UN reports that approximately 450 schools—nearly two-thirds of all schools nationwide—suffered significant damage, including roof loss and structural failures. As a result, many children remain out of school, compounding long-term social and economic risks.
Key economic sectors have also been badly affected. Tourism and agriculture—both major employers and sources of foreign exchange—sustained extensive damage, placing thousands of jobs and livelihoods at risk.
“This level of destruction has not only been unprecedented,” Zulu noted, “but has also reversed hard-won development gains in a country that was on a positive social and economic path.”
UN Recovery Priorities
The United Nations says it continues to work closely with the Government of Jamaica, national institutions, civil society, and international partners, with immediate recovery priorities including:
- Restoring health services to safe and fully functional levels
- Supporting the education sector as schools prepare to reopen
- Re-establishing essential community services in areas still without access
- Assisting with the repair and reconstruction of homes, roads, and critical infrastructure
Additional priorities include restoring livelihoods through targeted support for small farmers, fishers, and micro and small enterprises, strengthening agricultural production and food security, and supporting the tourism sector to safeguard jobs and accelerate economic recovery.
The UN has also stressed that recovery must be inclusive, climate-resilient, and risk-informed, allowing Jamaica to rebuild stronger and better prepared for future shocks.
Why Expertise Can No Longer Be Optional
At Jamaica Homes, we believe the lessons from Hurricane Melissa reinforce a message we have already placed before Government in our open letter on rebuilding Jamaica stronger.
Reconstruction on this scale cannot succeed without the systematic involvement of experienced professionals—including planners, engineers, surveyors, climate specialists, construction managers, disaster-risk experts, and housing practitioners with proven track records in post-disaster recovery.
Rebuilding is not simply about replacing what was lost. It is about:
- Building safer housing stock
- Enforcing resilient design and construction standards
- Protecting public investment
- Reducing long-term fiscal exposure
- And ensuring communities are not left repeatedly vulnerable
Jamaica has expertise at home and within its diaspora, as well as access to international specialists who have rebuilt after disasters far larger than ours. Failing to engage them meaningfully risks repeating mistakes, wasting scarce resources, and leaving future generations exposed to the same devastation.
A Moment That Demands Leadership
Hurricane Melissa has left Jamaica at a crossroads. The decisions taken now—who is consulted, whose knowledge is valued, and how recovery is governed—will shape the country for decades.
This is not the moment for shortcuts, political silos, or exclusion. It is the moment for evidence-led planning, professional oversight, and serious engagement with experts who understand how to rebuild nations under climate pressure.
Jamaica deserves nothing less.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available statements and estimates issued by the United Nations and attributed sources. All figures cited reflect preliminary assessments and may change as recovery efforts continue and further evaluations are completed. Views expressed in the analysis and commentary sections represent the perspective of Jamaica Homes and are intended to contribute to public discussion on recovery, resilience, and governance. They do not constitute official positions of the Government of Jamaica or the United Nations.