Residents walk through Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, on Wednesday.Matias Delacroix/The Associated Press
Phiona Durrant and her son sat by the phone Wednesday afternoon at her home in Aurora, Ont., waiting for an update from Adrian, her husband, in Jamaica.
It had been 24 hours since she last heard from him. He had travelled to the country last week for a family funeral. Ms. Durrant had repeatedly called and texted him since Hurricane Melissa hit the Caribbean island on Tuesday, but those attempts had gone unanswered.
Her aunt, uncle and great-aunt, who live in Thompson Town, Clarendon Parish – about two hours from the badly damaged areas of St. Elizabeth and St. James – have also been out of reach.
“I haven’t slept since my shift ended yesterday,” she said in a trembling voice. “I work overnight, and all I’ve been doing is calling, checking the news and praying. You don’t even know if they’re hurt, if they’re safe. It’s horrible.”
Hurricane Melissa caused widespread damage in Jamaica, as powerful winds, flooding and landslides destroyed homes, knocked out power, shut down airports and tore up infrastructure.
The storm killed dozens across the Caribbean, including at least eight in Jamaica as of Wednesday evening – leaving Jamaican Canadians with family back home anxiously waiting to hear updates.
Hurricane Melissa unleashed devastation in Jamaica as the strongest storm on record ever to hit the Caribbean island nation before roaring into eastern Cuba.
Reuters
Ms. Durrant said the uncertainty took her back to her childhood in Thompson Town when she was 7 and Hurricane Gilbert hit the island.
She still remembers the clattering zinc roof, the breadfruit trees being torn apart by the wind, and crawling beneath the cellar floor for protection.
Ms. Durrant, a social-service worker, consultant and president of the Aurora Black Community Association, said Thompson Town will need significant relief support after the hurricane.
On a normal day, she said, residents must walk about two hours to reach a taxi or hospital, and many rely on buckets to collect rainwater for drinking and bathing. Now, with no power and no way to communicate, the community is facing even greater challenges, she said.
For many Jamaican Canadians, updates from home have come in bits and pieces. Makayla Walker, a Jamaican-Canadian drag performer and social-media influencer, said she has been relying on a family group chat to stay informed. Through videos and brief messages, she’s seeing firsthand the devastation on the island.
“My family has been sending videos of water everywhere, power outages and ceilings collapsing,” said Ms. Walker. “It’s quite scary, not knowing when the next update will come or what it will show.”
Despite the fear and uncertainty, Ms. Walker says Jamaicans are strong and resilient people who will overcome this disaster. “We make light and find joy wherever we can,” she said. “Even after the storm, I know the people, the culture, the laughter, it’s still there.”
Vivian Barclay, a Jamaican-born music publisher who lives in Toronto, has also had no luck reaching her sister, who lives in Westgate Hills, Montego Bay.
“There’s a lot of damage, and a lot of people in the same situation as me, not able to find family,” she said. “I’ve talked to multiple people now who are trying to find family in Mandeville and have not been able to get in touch with anybody.”
Ms. Barclay says she has been reaching out across the island, including Mandeville - the capital of Manchester Parish and its largest town - to check on people’s wellbeing.
She described severe damage to her second home in Montego Bay, with shattered windows, open doors, and said her entire roof is torn off. Much of the town and surrounding areas remain flooded and blocked by debris, and roads have massive holes, making travel nearly impossible.
Damage to Vivian Barclay's home in Montego Bay, Jamaica, by Hurricane Melissa.Supplied
From Toronto, Ms. Barclay was using social media to speak out on how Canadians can help. She said the best way to offer support is to connect with reputable organizations that are already in touch with people on the ground, because every parish was impacted differently and the needs may not be the same.
Right now, she said money is more useful than clothing or blankets, allowing residents to repair roofs, build shelter, buy clean water and food, and clear roads.
Ms. Barclay said she plans to return home to help with relief, bringing a generator and other repair tools. She says it is important to focus on immediate relief and rebuilding that meets local needs.
Ms. Durrant said short-term aid isn’t enough. She hopes to see long-term sustainable support that can help Jamaicans rebuild stronger than before.
“We don’t want these things to die out after a few days,” she said. “Many people have lost not just homes, but hope. So, we need to see support going through trusted local organizations that can get supplies into the hands of families quickly.”
Canadians looking to support relief across the Caribbean can donate through organizations such as: The Hurricane Melissa Relief initiative; Food For The Poor Jamaica; and World Central Kitchen.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Vivian Barclay's home is in Mandeville, Jamaica. It is in Montego Bay. The article has also been updated to clarify that Mandeville is the capital and largest town in Manchester Parish, located in Middlesex County. (Oct. 30, 2025) The article was further updated to clarify that Ms. Barclay has a second home in Montego Bay, which has suffered damage.