Hurricane Melissa is one of the strongest hurricanes to pass through the Caribbean region. Though western Jamaica was decimated, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba and The Bahamas were also affected. As Jamaica begins its relief and recovery effort, five learnings from this experience are shared.
On Tuesday, 28 October 2025, Hurricane Melissa beat a devastating path across western Jamaica. The category 5 hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour (or 295 kilometres per hour) as it approached Jamaica. At the time of writing, at least 30 deaths across Haiti and Jamaica have been attributed to Hurricane Melissa, and damages have been estimated at over USD 8 billion (Source: Bloomberg).
Although Kingston and eastern Jamaica were spared the brunt of Hurricane Melissa, its impact will be felt for months to come. However, in the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica in recent memory, some important takeaways have begun to emerge. Five of them have been discussed below.
1. Nothing can prepare you for the devastation brought by a major hurricane
Caribbean residents who live in hurricane-prone countries tend to have some idea of the devastation that can occur when an adverse weather condition, such as a tropical storm or hurricane, occurs. However, although several storms pass through the region annually, facing the full devastation of a major hurricane with wind speeds of 110 miles per hour (178 kilometres per hour) and above is often a once-in-a-generation experience. It thus means that a significant portion of the population, including policymakers and other leaders, may be experiencing the widespread devastation of a major storm for either the first time or for the first time with the mantle of responsibility they hold.
We also need to consider the psychological impact of the devastation. Homes, buildings, and communities have been decimated, core infrastructure destroyed or at best compromised, and belongings lost or damaged. In less than 12 hours, people have lost everything, and nothing can be fully restored to what it was just a few days before.
2. Telecoms are a critical lifeline
Before, during and after a storm, having access to timely information is crucial to help those on the ground prepare and to make informed decisions as conditions deteriorate and the potential for loss of life or property increases. However, in our increasingly digital lives, where we can contact almost anyone almost instantaneously, the loss of telecoms service during and in the aftermath of a disaster can be very debilitating. Those affected might have little or no access to news updates, or are unable to call for assistance, and so can feel very abandoned when they are also grappling with the loss and devastation around them.
Further, it is also worth highlighting that most Caribbean countries have a large diaspora; hence, family and friends are eager to make contact with loved ones on the ground, and vice versa. Having internet access, or at the very least, basic mobile/cellular service, can truly go a long way in helping individuals and communities better manage in the aftermath of a disaster.
3. Telecoms networks are extremely vulnerable
It is almost inevitable that during a major natural disaster, a country’s telecoms infrastructure will be adversely affected. For example, poles get damaged or uprooted, cables are broken, the electricity supply is disrupted, and mobile/cellular towers and their equipment are in some way compromised. Though it could be argued that, as a critical service, telecoms infrastructure in the region should be more resilient, two points should be kept in mind. First, the cost of resiliency and its impact on prices would need to be carefully considered and addressed. Second, though some of the infrastructure, such as mobile/cellular towers, have been engineered to withstand Category 5 hurricane winds, other factors could result in service disruption, though the tower remains sound. For example, cell sites can go offline due to power outages, or backhaul links, often carried by fibre optic cable and connecting towers may have been damaged, or water from flooding or storm surges can damage base station equipment on the ground near the towers, or antennas or other equipment mounted on the tower are damaged due to high winds.
It is also important to highlight that the threat to telecoms infrastructure is not limited to adverse weather conditions and acts of God. People can also be a threat, especially those who engage in vandalism or other malicious activity. For example, in the week prior to Hurricane Melissa hitting Jamaica, telecoms carrier Flow reported significant vandalism and theft targeting its infrastructure (Source: The Gleaner).
4. The underbelly of technology has been evident
Though we can all point to the good of ICT and ICT-enabled platforms and services, such as the internet, artificial intelligence and even social media, their exploitative nature has been increasingly evident in the lead-up to and in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa moving across Jamaica. First, weather reporting, though undoubtedly vital, also appears to be big business, with content that is designed to get more views and become viral. To that end, there have been more hyperbolic or exaggerated statements, or even downright misinformation, that appear to serve the purpose of gaining attention.
Second, the global news agency, AFP, reported that as Hurricane Melissa approached Jamaica on Monday, 27 October, dozens of AI-generated videos containing fabricated scenes were circulating on social media. The inundation of fake videos and reports is not just distracting and some strange form of entertainment, but would also be obscuring critical safety alerts and information people need to know.
Finally, in the wake of the devastation Jamaica has experienced due to Hurricane Melissa, several websites have emerged to accept donations. The Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT) has issued an urgent alert on fraudulent Hurricane Melissa websites, and listed several domains that are attempting to exploit people’s generosity (see Exhibit 1).
It is emphasised that the only official website for Hurricane Melissa donations is: https://www.supportjamaica.gov.jm
5. A new ‘normal’ will need to be forged
Finally, as the authorities continue with their assessment of the loss and damage across Jamaica, and a more complete picture of the devastation starts to emerge, it is likely that in the most affected areas, things can never go ‘back to normal’. Instead, what we can hope to do is to rebuild better and try to forge a new path, taking advantage of new opportunities.
Having said this, the sobering truth about living in the Caribbean region is the fact that tropical storms and hurricanes are a yearly occurrence. A country can potentially experience a major storm, or even multiple storms annually. There are no guarantees. Further, depending on the scale of devastation experienced, there can be a sense of ‘one step forward, two steps back’, as by the time most of the restoration effort has been completed, and citizens have some semblance of normalcy, the next year’s North Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June to November, would most likely be right around the corner.
Though these circumstances make it difficult for our countries to plan, build and develop, they also foster resilience, which is why we always get back up and continue pushing forward.
Image credit: Canva
