“The full scale of the impact is still not clear; what is clear is that the years ahead will require sustained effort and support,” said Mike Ball, COO of All Hands & Hearts. “Simply, this is one of the worst disasters in Jamaica’s recent history.”
Currently, our teams are scaling up rapidly to support urgent needs across Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth and New Hope.
We’ve completed debris removal at two of Accompong’s school and community center, and are working hard to clean out and protect an increasing number of homes in the community.
Supporting Residents
Jason is one of the homeowners we supported in the Accompong community. During Hurricane Melissa, his roof and walls were ripped off, leaving his home exposed to extreme winds and rain that scattered wreckage and mud throughout the property. Our volunteers helped remove debris, clean out what was lost, and protect the belongings that survived. Now that the space is cleared, his home can be tarped for extra protection as frequent rains continue to threaten more water damage.
Tree Removal to Clear Roads and Community Spaces
We’re clearing roads with Disaster Arborist Response Team crews to reconnect isolated communities, while assisting the damaged homes and community spaces we’ve since been able to access. These efforts are reconnecting isolated communities and allowing trucks carrying food, water and other essential relief supplies to get through.
We’ve also partnered with IsraAID to clear out a school in Bethel Town, Westmoreland, that will soon host child-friendly spaces and community support services, including Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) emotional resilience courses.
Stay tuned as our long-term efforts continue to develop rapidly every day.
Make a Difference
Your support makes this work possible. Please consider donating to help us continue providing critical relief to disaster-impacted communities. Together, we can make a difference.
Thank you for standing with communities in their greatest time of need.
